Once I learnt more and more about sports shops, I fostered a desire of writing on sports shops. Now that my desire has been fulfilled, I hope your desire for its information too has been fulfilled.

sports shops For Your Reading Pleasure
Dice Sports Games That Are Fun - The College Basketball Game

This is the forth installment in a world of incredibly fun sports games played with dice. In the first installment I taught you how to play the college version of Dice Football. Then in the second you learned the Pro Football dice game and the third dice game was, Dice Baseball. Now we are going to learn the Dice College Basketball Game. Unlike the football games you will need eight dice, notebook paper and a pen or pencil to play dice basketball.

You will recall that in the college football game you got your box score set up so that you can begin the game and just take turns for four quarters. In the dice basketball games you will have to make a box score sheet that has two boxes split in half. These two halves represent the home team and the visitors. It does not matter who rolls first in dice basketball.

In the college version of dice basketball each team only gets two halves to roll for their scoring. In the coming pro version there are actually four quarters per team.

Scoring is pretty simple. Each team gets to start their first half by rolling all of the eight dice once. Once rolled, count up the total of all eight dice. As an example let us assume that the Home team rolled the following dice totals; 4, 3, 1, 6, 5, 6, 1, 2. In all, these total 28 which would represent 28 points. At most eight dice would only total 48 points per half. Which is a little better than average, in terms of college basketball. However, one would have to roll eight dice that all hit sixes in order to get to 48 points.

This is where you can choose what kind of game you wish to play. If you like low scoring games then keep the score as originally rolled. If you like a lot of scoring then you can re-roll the lower dice to achieve higher scoring games. I like to use 1, 2, and 3 as re-roll dice. So what we will do is take the four dice which are 1, 1, 2, and 3 in the above example and re-roll them. Those four dice come out as the following; 2, 4, 4, 5. This re-roll total equals 15 points. Now all we have to do is add the 15 points to the original 28 points for a first half Home team score of 43 points. Not bad at all. Remember, you get to choose what re-roll dice you want to use, if any at all.

Now the Visitors get to strike back. Their dice totals are; 2, 3, 3, 4, 6, 4, 5, 4. This equals a total of 31. Now the Visitors re-roll the 2, 3, and 3 and come up with 4, 5, and a 1; for a total of 10 points. The Visitors add this 10 points to their previous total of 31 for a final first half score of 41. Thus the first half basketball game ends with the Home team winning by a score of 43 to 41 over the Visitors.

The team who is behind always goes first in the second half. If the score is tied then the Visitors have to go first in the second half. So let us say that the Visitors roll the following; 2, 4, 5, 3, 3, 5, 6, 1. That is a total of 29. Now the Visitors re-roll the 1, 2, 3, and 3 which results in 4, 5, 3, and 6 for a total of 18. They add the previous 29 to the 18 and their second half score totals 47 points. This score is added to their first half total of 41 points. The game ends for them with their score of 88 points.

The Home team responds with a roll of 3, 3, 3, 5, 5, 4, 4, and 3 for a total of 30 points. Then they re-roll the 3, 3, 3, and 3 which results in dice totals of 6, 5, 4, and 6. That is a total of 21 points! When they add the 21 to their previous roll of 30 we see that they have a total second half score of 51 points. When added to their first half score of 43 points the Home team has come back to win the game by a score of 94 to 88.

Now if a game ends in a tied score then both teams play an overtime quarter. For overtime, both teams roll only four dice and the re-roll dice rule is equally in play. Again, if the score ends in a tie then you just keep playing overtime quarters until a winner emerges.

Handicapping College basketball dice games can be a snap. Let us say that you have the Home team advantage. How this advantage can be enacted is to allow the Home team to get re-rolls on all 1, 2, and 3 dice rolls. The Visitors will get to re-roll on the dice rolls of 1 and 2 only. This handicapping can be fun if you have several teams in some sort of tournament set-up. Try it and see for yourself what fun tournament play is. Especially when an underdog knocks off a favorite.

Till then, keep on rolling.

John DeJong is the lead creative designer for NotMeUSA. He has been writing humorous advertisements for over twenty-five years. All of the funny t-shirts, prescription pill bottles, and gag spray bottles were created by him. You can view these by visiting NotMeUSA.com

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Epson Perfection 4490 Photo Scanner

Epson Perfection 4490 Photo Scanner
Quality. Performance. Precision.
A premium value for professional quality scans, the Epson Perfection 4490 Photo delivers extraordinary results with 4800 x 9600 dpi resolution and an impressive 3.4 Dmax. This full-featured performer makes it easy for anyone to quickly restore, repair and renew classic photos, film and transparencies for stunning color reprints and enlargements. Powerful Digital ICE technology offers built-in dust and scratch removal capabilities for film, while Epson Easy Photo Fix provides one-touch color restoration. Together, these two features bring new life to faded or damaged originals.

The Epson Perfection 4490 Photo offers fully automatic scanning for increased productivity, plus two advanced scanning modes for greater control. Convenient film holders accommodate multiple 35mm slides and negatives, plus medium format film. And, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ensures fast data transfer. There's even a fully featured software package that includes Adobe Photoshop Elements, ABBYY FineReader Sprint, and more.

Compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Macintosh opperating systems, this scanner provides an unbeatable solution for any task or project. Rich in quality and versatility, the Epson Perfection 4490 Photo will highlight and optimize every detail. When partnered with an Epson Stylus ink jet printer, it's a perfect choice for creating brilliant images made to last.

Features include:

• Professional level 4800 x 9600 dpi resolution
• 3.4 Dmax for wide dynamic range and greater image quality
• Powerful Epson Easy Photo Fix™ to restore faded color photos
• Built-in transparency unit with dedicated light source for better scan uniformity
• Versatile scanning with film holders for 35mm negatives, slides and 2-1/4" transparencies
• Powerful software package for photo and document scanning; includes Adobe Photoshop Elements

What's in the box
Epson Perfection 4490 Photo Scanner, 2.7" x 9.3" Transparency unit (built into lid), Two Film Holders: 35mm slides and film strips and medium format, CD-ROM with Epson Scan software, productivity software and Electronic Reference Guide, CD-ROM with Adobe Photoshop Elements, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable, Epson Setup Sheet, AC adapter and power cable

Customer Review: Compatibile with Mac OS 10.3?

The scanner has 3 modes of operation: "auto," "home" and "professional. My Apple computer uses Mac OS 10.3.9. I have encountered the following problems: (a) the "home" mode does not appear to work at all; and (b) the "PDF scan" operation (direct creation of a multi-page PDF file) seems to work only in the "professional" mode.

Customer Review: Epson Perfection 4490 scanner

For the price the 4490 is an excellent product. It's a bit slow at the higher resolutions but the basic resolution is adequate if you plan to make ordinary prints of the scan. Very easy to use.

Wii Charge Station

Wii Charge Station
Nyko's Charge Station for Wii is a great wayto save money on batteries. This dock features twin rechargeable battery packs for the Wii Remote -- just connect the Wii Remotes and let them sit until you're ready to play. Charges two Wiimotes at once.

Customer Review: Saved so many batteries

I love this as its so convient and saves so much money on batteries... My units stayed charged for a long time, totally worth the money !

Customer Review: Great Product

I will be buying a third one of these (Three Wiis in house). This is great because it keeps the bettery charged when not playing and charges quickly. No need to stock up on Double A batteries.

Klean Kanteen with Poly Sports Cap (27 oz)

Klean Kanteen with Poly Sports Cap (27 oz)
Customer Review: Excellent Product

My wife and I purchased three Kleen Kanteens and we are very pleased with them. We will get two more for the children soon. They are well constructed, including the plastic tops, and I think they will be quite durable.



Very pleased to hear about the Neoprene. I will look into that. The stainless steel definitely conducts the cold and the heat.

Customer Review: my new favorite water bottle

Thanks to Chippy for suggesting the Built NY 20-ounce Neoprene cover. It fits the KK 27-ounce bottle and keeps ice water cold for hours. If you use the pop-up sport cap, you have to suck on it because, of course, you can't compress steel like plastic, but that's no big deal. You can also twist off the whole cap; the pop-up part fits in a doohickey that hangs from the neck of the bottle, so the cap stays clean and you won't lose it. I was going to hold back one star because of the steep price, but since I expect this to last a long time, and I'm considering buying another for work, I decided to give it the five it deserves.

Yoga Pregnancy

Yoga Pregnancy
YOGA FIT PREGNANCY Pre- and Post-Natal Yoga Workouts
Presented by Heather Seiniger - certified Yoga Instructor... and Mom.

Pregnancy and Mothering are some of the most challenging and fulfilling times in a woman s life. An appropriate yoga practice can help us stay healthy, happy and calm, both as we prepare for and recover from our baby s arrival. The 30-minute pre-natal sequence is designed specifically to help moms-to-be develop the strength, flexibility and mental focus that will help them not only in the delivery process but also in facing the new challenges of mothering.

The post-natal program addresses the needs of moms who want to get back in shape while also releasing tension and fatigue. This 30-minute routine provides safe ways to build core strength, as well as effective tools for increasing energy and reducing stress. Using breath and mental focus, yoga is one of the most effective tools for training the body and calming the mind. Led by yoga instructor, Heather Seiniger, women of all levels of yoga experience can work safely and will improvement with regular practice. Modifications are offered to increase difficulty and provide a more challenging routine, as needed.

Two Workouts On One DVD Will Help:
Control Weight Gain
Alleviate Back Pain
Ease Delivery
Get Your Body Back Fast!

Customer Review: Wonderful Relaxation

I purchased this video to change up my exercise routine a little from my usual treadmill and strength training workouts. I love that it's only 20 minutes long! It's a quick and relaxing way to stretch and maintain my flexibility during this pregnancy. It's not much of a workout (you won't be sweating or breathing heavy) but that's not what I was looking for. If you are looking for something more challenging try the Shiva Rae video.

Customer Review: Perfect for me.

I love yoga and was worried about proper form (for me and my growing baby) once I became pregnant. I also have gestational diabetes and that makes it hard for me to do long workouts. This DVD was a comfortable 30 minutes. And I was happy with all of the common yoga forms I could still accomplish with my big belly. This is not a vigorous workout, but I was still happy with the results. I did not feel strained or stressed. I loved it!

Cobra HH38WXST Hand Held CB 10 Channel Weather Radio

Cobra HH38WXST Hand Held CB 10 Channel Weather Radio
Whatever your outdoor activity, Cobra's compact handheld CB radios are a great way to stay in touch with friends, or the over 30 million other CB radios in use across the country. Plus complete access to 10 National Weather Channels (7 NOAA and 3 International) for the latest weather information. And there are no license or service fees!Cobra's HH 38 WX ST incorporates SoundTracker, a patent-pending technology that dramatically improves the sound quality of the transmission and reception of CB radio signals.

Customer Review: Not too bad at all..

It has good receive and limited range with the stock antenna. I bought the extension antenna for it and it does a little better. If you want to be heard farther than 1/2 mile you should go with a mag mount type antenna for your car. To be clear, I'm happy with this radio and i expected the range that it gets..

I do have 1 NEGATIVE thing to say about this radio. The weather is hard to pull in on it. When my other weather radios are getting the weather channel clearly, this one just got static. It does get the weather if you're close enough to the tower but, a real weather radio does much better.

Customer Review: Very Pleased

I use this when I travel up north on I95. I hooked it up with a portable outside antenna and it worked great. I would suggest this setup for anyone that uses it traveling. You would need to buy an adaptor piece (Cobra HA-BNC BNC to Standard Connector for Hand-Held CB Antennas) that fits the antenna to the top of the scanner. I use the Little Wil antenna with this and it works terrific.

Sony MSXM8GS 8 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Retail Package)

Sony MSXM8GS 8 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Retail Package)
Sony's 8GB Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo media offers maximum storage for compact digital cameras, portable audio devices and your PSP Handheld Entertainment System. Providing durable, high-capacity digital file storage, the MSX-M8GS can be used in most Memory Stick(R) PRO media compatible devices. Get connected to your favorite multimedia anywhere with the powerful and compact Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo media.
Record and playback copy-protected digital media files from your desktop or notebook with Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo featuring MagicGate(TM) technology. Its unique encryption technology ensures protected content is only transferred between compliant devices and Memory Stick(R) media, preventing unauthorized copying or playback. Listen to favourite digital music files or dub audio tracks from your CD collection and enjoy them anywhere with Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo and MagicGate.
Whether capturing breathtaking digital images and video, enjoying music with friends, or transporting large and important files, Sony's ultra-compact Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo is always the perfect choice. Designed specifically for professional-quality compact digital cameras and entertainment devices, its ergonomic design makes it easy to insert and remove without hassle or fuss.

Customer Review: Awesome reliability and speed

I have two of these 8GB babies and use one in my PSP Slim and the other in my Sony VAIO UX280P micro PC. On the PSP I loaded 5GB with movies and TV as well as my favorite MP3s, and leave over 2GB for game saves. The speed of the memory stick on both devices (the PSP and the UX280P) is quite good. (Sony also sells "high-speed" cards with red markings, which are about 50% faster but also 50% more expensive.) I don't know if this 8GB memory stick is ReadyBoost-capable on Vista; I have a 4GB version which supports ReadyBoost in my Sony FE-series laptop at work.



I own quite a number of Sony memory stick media and they've always been reliable. I've dropped them, stepped on them (actually my son did that more often), and they still work.

Customer Review: Huge amount of space

Using it in my psp. I put half of californication se1, the first four eps of the office and five movies and I still got room on it. Reads just fine in my psp and transfers just as fast as my sandisk 4 gig card. Without the movies I can put about 23 psp isos and a couple of homebrew games and apps... The isos range from a couple hundred megs to about 1.3 gigs. Anyways it holds a lot of stuff and it works in my psp. That's all I need.

Set Yourself on Fire

Set Yourself on Fire
The third LP for this Canadian band, following their amazing sophomore set, "Heart;" a critical smash. "Set Yourself on Fire" is a self-proclaimed Sex, Death, & Robots record, with rich and ornate depths. Produced by TONY HOFFER (Beck, Air, Grandaddy, Phoenix).

Customer Review: Don't insult your fans Torquil...

Hey there! Just saw you [Stars] perform at the Shibuya Club Quattro. I have to comment on the insult that was made tonight towards Americans. Torquil...I will refer to you as: "that old dude wearing the white/cream blazer" Yes! America is south of Canada, yes we have our issues, and some people might even be FAT... but how dare you insult your FANS???

I am American, I live in Tokyo, not the United States.

You just lost a fan! How can you openly insult your FANS? If it wasn't for us you would be where you are today. Next time, Before getting all pompous and full of yourself [Old dude in the white/cream blazer], think before you speak.

Oh and BTW I'm american, I'm not fat, and I didn't vote for Bush...

Customer Review: A rock record with poppiness

In many ways, a band like Stars, Broken Social Scene or the New Pornographers somehow manage to make very accessible records without feeling like they were recorded solely because they knew it would sell. Sure songs on this record are quite hooky yet you can instantly tell the difference between these songs or ones from say Good Charlotte or a Simple Plan. Stars last release before it got the remix treatment, Set Yourself on Fire is a very likable record and easy to sing along with and love, that is if you want to.



The album starts off with "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" with vocalists Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan trading verses before they come together at the end. This is an example of a song that gets in your head despite the lack of a proper "chorus" that repeats. "Ageless Beauty" was the big hit of the record and while musically it's quite basic, it's propelled largely by Millan's vocals which are quite ethereal in a way on the song. "Reunion" is another likable track largely sung by Campbell with Millan adding in some flavor. This is another one of those catchy tracks that will become a favorite over time. The rest of the songs are just as memorable although, some like "The First Five Times" aren't that stellar.



My absolute favorite track on the record and probably of their career is the album closer, "Calendar Girl". When taken at face value, lyrically it's very honest in that "life sucks but I'm trying" message and musically it's really 3 chords but damn if Millan doesn't sing it beautifully. When she sings the line "I'm alive" at the end, you're almost not sure if she's celebrating this fact or she's just pointing out the irony considering the subject matter: living without nothing special about it.



Like a lot of bands with duel vocalists, you tend to prefer one over the other (aside from everyone's fav Fab Four). In this case, Millan has one of the best female voices in rock today but Campbell, while no slouch in his own right, doesn't really have the emotive power Millan brings. Kind of reminds me of Oasis' Gallagher bros. with Noel being the more range-y singer but Liam being the most emotive. Granted, a lot of songs on here such as The Big Fight or Your Ex-Lover is Dead work for the trade-offs but when they're primarily Campbell-led, such as the aforementioned "First Five Times" or "He Lied About Death", despite Millan's additions, don't work as well.



All in all, it's probably one of the best records they've done and one of the better "pop rock" releases lately.

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Provo Copeland Sports closed

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Copelands' Enterprises Inc., owner of the Copeland Sports specialty sporting goods retail chain, closed its Provo store at the Shops at Riverwoods earlier this week. The Provo location at 4801 …