ANET (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1950), 245. 84. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 118. 85. Pritchard, ANET, 245. 86.

of Retenu will not rebel again on another occasion,” and, “We will never again act evilly against Men-kheper-Re (Thutmose III)—who lives forever, our good lord—in our lifetime” (Pritchard, ANET, 238; Hoffmeier, “Memphis and Karnak Stelae,” in Context of Scripture, vol. 2, 16). Since city-states throughout Syro-Palestine were involved in this rebellion, the territory of the kings of Retenu who pledged perpetual loyalty to Thutmose III must have comprised both Syria and Palestine. 92. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 119. 93. Pritchard, ANET, 245. 94. Eitienne Drioton and Jacques Vandier, L’Egypte (Paris: Les Presses Universitaires de France, 1938), 406, 663. 95. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 120. 96. Ibid. 97. Ibid., 121. 98. Rainey, “Amenhotep II’s Campaign to Takhsi,” 71. 99. Pritchard, ANET, 245. 100. Vandersleyen, L’Egypte, vol. 2, 324. Rainey affirms the activity of later restoration on the Memphis Stele, remarking that its opening lines are difficult to read due to faulty restoration by a later scribe (Rainey, “Amenhotep II’s Campaign to Takhsi,” 72). 101. Vandersleyen, L’Egypte, vol. 2, 325. Shea correctly asserts that “the identification of the campaign of Year 7 is not a scribal error because the campaign of Year 9 is identified as ‘his second campaign of victory’ in the same text” (Shea, “Amenhotep II as Pharaoh,” 46), but he fails to account for the possibility that while the original scribe etched the year of the pharaoh’s first campaign onto the stele correctly, it was subject to damage by alteration and subsequently faulty reparation. 102. Vandersleyen, L’Egypte, vol. 2, 323, 324. 103. Critics of the two-campaign theory argue that “Takhsi,” a region in Syria already known as such at the time of Thutmose III, does not appear on the Memphis and Karnak Stelae, where another “first campaign” is discussed, thus suggesting a variance in destinations. For one, Shea objects that while the Year-3 campaign identifies Takhsi as the region of the campaigning, this term is never mentioned in the account of the Year-7 campaign, thus implying that these two accounts cannot describe the same campaign (Shea, “Amenhotep II as Pharaoh,” 46), despite both of them documenting a campaign that was waged in Syria. This objection is weak, however, since the purpose of the Amada Stele was not to boast of military exploits, but rather to commemorate the work completed on the Amada temple in Nubia. Its brief allusion to the expedition in Syria is included to note that Amenhotep II captured seven rulers of Takhsi, executed them by his own hand to make an example of them, and had six of them hanged upside down for public exhibition on the walls at Thebes, while the seventh was to be hanged similarly at Napata, just downstream from the Fourth Cataract in Nubia. This graphic display functioned to remind the Nubians that pharaoh was to be revered and obeyed. The Memphis and Karnak Stelae had only one goal in mind: to boast of pharaoh’s military victories in Asia (Vandersleyen, L’Egypte, vol. 2, 323–324; Hallo and Simpson, Ancient Near East, 261–262). Since the commissioners of these stelae had no need to mention the capture of the rulers of Takhsi, which was only one of the regions on the campaign’s itinerary, they simply chose not to include the term. 104. Redford, “Coregency of Tuthmosis III,” 119–120. 105. Wolfgang Helck, Urkunden der 18. Dynastie, no. 18 (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1956), 1448; Vandersleyen, L’Egypte, vol. 2, 324.106. The view that A1 was launched in response to an Asiatic revolt is held by Breasted and most modern Egyptologists (Breasted, Ancient Records, vol. 2, 304; Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel, 163; Grimal, History of Ancient Egypt, 218). 107. Dennis Forbes, “Menkheperre Djehutymes: Thutmose III, A Pharaoh’s Pharaoh,” KMT 9:4 (Win 1998–1999), 65. 108. Breasted, Ancient



Records, vol. 2, 304. Curiously, the universally
Accepted location of Syria as the site of the rebellion is in stark contrast to the opinion of Vandersleyen, who states that “the first campaign, instead of reaching Ugarit and the middle of the Orontes Valley, hardly crossed the latitudinal equivalent of Lake Hula and the city of Tyre; as a result, it was no more significant than the second campaign” (Vandersleyen, L’Egypte, vol. 2, 328). On the contrary, A1 was far more significant, especially considering the post-victory celebration, the post-campaign executions at Thebes, and the erecting of the Elephantine Stele in Year 4. Moreover, during A1, the Egyptians passed so far up the Western Levant that they probably reached the border of Mitannian territory, which is known from The Annals of Amenhotep II. Aharoni even infers an unsuccessful Egyptian invasion of Mitanni, relying on the passage, “His majesty, going south, reached Niy (in the Northern Orontes Valley)” (Aharoni and Avi-Yonah, Macmillan Atlas, 34). The Egyptians later encountered a Mitannian spy during the concluding phase of A1, making Aharoni’s conclusion quite believable. When Amenhotep II was passing through the Sharon Plain, a messenger of the King of Mitanni, called the “Prince of Naharin” here, was captured by the Egyptians. This messenger was carrying with him a letter in the form of a clay tablet that hung from his neck like a necklace, which undoubtedly dealt with matters that concerned the Mitanni-inspired rebellion (Ibid.). All of this demonstrates the great importance of this vassal-rebellion, both to Egypt and to Mitanni, as Mitanni was seeking to usurp Egypt’s stranglehold on the prestigious position of the ANE’s dominant super-power. In contrast to all of this international intrigue revolving around A1, A2 was far less significant on an international level and far less illustrious, as will be seen momentarily. 109. Aharoni and Avi-Yonah, The Macmillan Atlas, 34. 110. Grimal, History of Ancient Egypt, 219. 111. Pritchard, ANET, 246. 112. Examples of campaigns launched in spring are plentiful: (1) Thutmose III’s first Asiatic campaign, as he arrived at his first destination (the border fortress of Tjel) on ca. 20 April 1484 BC; (2) Amenhotep II’s first Asiatic campaign, as he arrived at his first destination (Shamash-Edom) on ca. 15 May 1452 BC; (3) Raamses II and his battalions of infantry and squads of chariotry, who departed for Kadesh in late April of ca. 1274 BC (Kenneth A. Kitchen, Pharaoh Triumphant: The Life and Times of Ramesses II [Warminster, Eng.: Aris & Phillips, 1982], 53); (4) Nabopolassar’s expedition against mountain tribes in the month of Sivan, or ca. May/June of 607 BC (D. J. Wiseman, Chronicles of the Chaldean Kings [London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1961], 65); and (5) Nebuchadnezzar’s expedition to Syria in Sivan of the first full year of his reign, or ca. 604 BC (Ibid., 28, 69). 113. Der Manuelian, Amenophis II, 59. As proven above, “seventh year” should be correctRosetta Stone Arabic

Genesis and Ancient Near Eastern Stories of Creation and Flood: Part II

This article was first published in a 4 part series, starting in the Winter 1996 issue of Bible and Spade. Man as the Image of GodClines offers a thorough discussion of “The Image of God in Man,” reviewing the history of interpretation. He concludes that: "Genesis 1:26 is to be translated “Let us make man as our image” or “to be in our image” . . . according to Genesis 1 man does not have the image of God, nor is he made in the image of God, but is himself the image of God" (1968).As for the image itself, Clines observes, with K.H. Bernhardt, that: "in the ancient Near East the primary function of the image was to be the dwelling-place of spirit or fluid which derived from the being whose image it was" (1968: 80–85).He also notes that in the ancient Near East the king is “the image of God,” and "the image of the god is associated very closely with rulerhood. The king as image of the god is his representative. The king has been created by the god to be his image" (1968: 80–85).In her recent treatment of the specification of human sexual distinction, P.A. Bird, like Clines, asserts that the selem ’elōhim ‘image of God’ in Genesis 1 is “a royal designation, the precondition or requisite for rule” (1994:341) and concludes that: "the genius of the formulation in Genesis 1:26 may be seen in its use of a common expression and image of Mesopotamian (Canaanite) royal theology to counter a common image of Mesopotamian (Canaanite) anthropology, viz., the image of humanity as servant of the gods" (1994:345) 1 Bird suspects a polemical intention also in the blessing of v. 28, “Be fruitful and multiply.” For, since “the power of created life to replenish itself is a power given to each species at its creation,” it is “not dependent upon subsequent rites,” that is to say, the fertility cult, “for its effect.” However, the “word of sexual differentiation [in v. 27] anticipates the blessing” since “sexual constitution is the presupposition of the blessing of increase.” Verse 27 as a whole, she holds, signifies that “unlike God, but like the other creatures, adam is characterized by sexual differentiation.” In other words, “adam is created like (i.e., resembling) God, but as creature, and hence male and female” (1994: 351).Genesis 2-3Adam and AdapaShea lists “principal parallels” between the “Adapa Epic" 2 and the account of Adam in Genesis 2–3: (1) Both subjects underwent a test before the deity, and the test was based upon something they were to consume. (2) Both failed the test and thereby forfeited their opportunity for immortality. (3) As a result of their failure, certain consequences passed upon mankind. (4) Both subjects qualify as members of the first generation of mankind. (5) Their names can be equated linguistically (1977: 39). However, among the differences Shea notes are these: (1) “Adapa was tested with bread and water while Adam and Eve were tested with the fruit.” (2) Though both were sentenced to death and “this sentence is even given in rather similar terms,” these terms have “quite different meanings in their respective contexts.” (3) Adapa’s choice was made in obedience to Ea, but Adam made his own free choice contrary to correct instructions. (4) “Adapa’s offense, in essence, was that he upset the course of nature, while Adam’s offense was moral in nature.” In conclusion, Shea suggests that “it is possible to view these two separate sources as independent witnesses to a common event (1977:28–35, 41). Niels-Erik Andreasen also thinks that “parallels do indeed exist between Adam and Adapa, but they are seriously blunted by the entirely different contexts in which they occur” (1981:192). However, the view that “the name Adapa is a secondary development from Adam” is not conclusive.As for the etymology of the word Adam, recently Sjöberg suggested that the Sumerian a-dam, which refers exclusively to people, is “a ‘Canaanite’, West-Semitic loanword in Sumerian,” since it has no “Sumerian” etymology (1984:223). The nearest cognate of the Hebrew “‘adam is, so far, the Ugaritic adm which appears in an epithet of the god El, i.e., ab adm ‘father of man’” (Hess 1990:1–15; 1993:14–19; Andreasen 1981:181 n. 9).Creation of Man“The most important single witness to Babylonian speculation on the origins and nature of man is,” as Moran says, “the description of his creation in the first tablet of the ‘Atra-Hasis Epic,’ especially lines 192–248” (1970: 48).3 In 1967, Millard first noted that the “Atrahasis Epic is more specific on [the making of man] than any other Babylonian Creation account.” In the Atra-Hasis Epic I 221ff., Man was created from the flesh and blood of a slaughtered god mixed with clay...Man’s earthy constituency is emphasized by both Babylonian and Hebrew (i.e., Gn 2:7) narratives, and his divine part equally...No hint of the use of dead deity or any material part of a living one is found in Genesis (1994:120). In 1969, Lambert and Millard discussed the account of man’s creation in the “Atra-Hasis Epic” in detail. The author used what was the generally accepted view...that man was formed from clay mixed with the blood of a slain god...‘Clay’ in this context is the material substance of the human body. This can be learnt from a number of passages that speak of death as a “returning to clay.” Exactly the same conception is shown in the Hebrew account of man’s creation...(Gn 3:19) (1969:21; see also Lambert 1980:73). As for the “blood,” Lambert and Millard speculate that “in all probability the Babylonians conceived of man as matter (‘clay’) activated by the addition of divine blood,” while on the other hand “the Hebrew account of creation in Genesis 2 explains that God imparted ‘the breath of life’ into man, and so animation began” (1969: 22).Eden StoryFor a long time the Eden story has drawn much scholarly attention4 and has recently been treated thoroughly by Wallace in his monograph (1985). Here, however, I would like to focus on comparative materials with respect to this story.(a) Enki and Ninhursag. The story has been compared with Sumerian myths such as Enki and Ninhursag, a Sumerian paradise story.5 Kramer summarizes it as follows: Dilmun is a land that is “pure,” “clean,” and “bright,” a “land of the living” which knows neither sickness nor death. What is lacking, however, is the fresh water so essential to animal and plant life. The great Sumerian water-god, Enki, therefore orders Utu, the sun-god, to fill it with fresh water brought up from the earth. Dilmun is thus turned into a divine garden, green with fruit-laden fields and meadows (1963:147–48). Kramer thinks that there are “numerous parallels” between this “divine paradise” myth and the Eden story. He suggests that the Biblical paradise, “a garden planted eastward in Eden,” may have “originally” been identical with Dilmun, “a land some where to the east of Sumer.” He also compares the “fresh water brought up from the earth” in Dilmun with the 'ed water in Genesis 2:6. He notes that: the birth of the goddesses without pain or travail illuminates the background of the curse against Eve that it shall be her lot to conceive and bear children in sorrow; Enki’s eating of the eight plants and the curse uttered against him for his misdeed recall the eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge by Adam and Eve and the curses pronounced against each of them for this sinful action (1963: 148–49). Kramer holds that this Sumerian literary background would explain why Eve, “the mother of all living,” was fashioned from the rib of Adam.

If we restrict ourselves to exegetical considerations,

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It is this calendar that provides a date for the एंट्री

into Canaan that is in precise agreement with the 480th-year datum of 1 Kgs 6:1. When Thiele’s date for the division of the kingdom is combined with a literal reading of 1 Kgs 6:1, the resulting dates for the exodus and conquest are in perfect accord with the multiple phenomena that have been cited related to the Jubilees and Sabbatical years. All this is explained by a thesis that is the quintessence of simplicity: Israel entered the Promised Land in 1406 bc with the only credible source for the Jubilee and Sabbatical-year legislation that has ever been postulated, the book of Leviticus, in its possession. II. HAWKINS’ ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS 1. First wrong archaeological argument: new settlements in the central hill country in Iron Age I (1200–1000 bc) signal the arrival of the Israelites. Surface surveys over the last four decades have revealed many new settlements in the central hill country in Iron Age I, ca. 1200–1000 bc. Hawkins reasons, “The implication seemed clear that a new population group had arrived in the Central Hill-Country during the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age I.”[46] He believes this to be evidence for the initial arrival of the Israelites in Canaan.[47] The Iron I settlement data, however, undermine Hawkins’s thesis since the material culture of the Iron I settlers exhibits continuity with the previous Late Bronze culture,[48] indicating they were not newcomers at all, but had been in the land for a considerable period of time.[49] This continuity is best seen in the pottery, but includes other material culture items as well. Mazar views the situation as follows: “The settlers had no traditions of their own in the realm of architecture, pottery, crafts, and art. These were adopted from their Canaanite neighbors…Later, when the manufacture of such objects began in the settlement regions themselves, the Canaanite tradition continued to make itself felt in the forms of the tools and vessels.”[50] The evidence indicates a long period of contact between the Iron I settlers and the previous Canaanite culture: The objects of the early Iron Age indicate complete dependence on the culture of the Late Bronze Age. Because the early Iron Age settlement cannot be regarded as an offshoot of the former Canaanite cities, this continuity is best explained by intensive, prolonged contact with the Canaanite culture. This contact must have already occurred in the Late Bronze Age before the beginning of sedentary life. . . . The results of archaeological research indicate early Iron Age culture was highly dependent upon Late Bronze Age culture and they preclude conquest of the country by new immigrants.[51] These observations accord with the biblical model based on an early exodus. The Israelites arrived in Canaan in 1406 bc and initially continued the lifestyle they had followed the previous forty years, that of semi-nomadic pastoralists: “Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness” (Num 14:33, NASB). After ca. 200 years they became sedentary around 1200 bc, as illustrated by the story of Gideon,[52] possibly due to economic factors.[53] 2. Second wrong archaeological argument: an Iron Age I structure found on Mt. Ebal is the altar of Josh 8:30–31. In the 1980s a structure was excavated on Mt. Ebal which the excavator, Adam Zertal, believes was the altar of Josh 8:30–31.[54] Hawkins avers, “If Zertal’s Iron I structure on Ebal is the altar of Josh 8:30–35, there could be important implications for the understanding of Israelite origins.”[55] He then devotes eight pages of his paper to justifying the use of two scarabs to date the earliest phase of the site. This is not the main issue, however, as there is general acceptance of the excavator’s dates for the site.[56] The question is, can the structure excavated by Zertal be associated with the altar of Josh 8:30–31? We shall examine three problems associated with this identification: date, location, and size. a. The chronological problem. There were two phases to the Mt. Ebal complex. Str. II was founded on bedrock, and consisted of fragmentary structures and installations, with evidence of cultic activity (intensive use of fire on the bedrock, ash, and many animal bones). This early phase is dated by the two Egyptian scarabs discussed in detail by Hawkins, and pottery, to 1240–1200 bc, i.e., the very end of the Late Bronze Age. In the early twelfth century, the beginning of the Iron Age I period, a large stone construction, interpreted as an altar, related structures, and a low encircling wall were built over Str. II. This phase, Str. IB, is dated by pottery to 1200–1130 bc. [57] In order to relate Zertal’s altar to Joshua, Hawkins, by necessity, must date the entry of Israel to ca. 1200 bc, the time when the altar was constructed.[58] This is later than most evangelicals who favor a late date would place the event.[59] Hawkins’s dating, in fact, cannot be sustained since Israel was well established in Canaan long before 1200 bc as demonstrated by the Iron I settlement data discussed above, and documented by the Merenptah Stele.[60] Thus, there is a chronological disconnect between the Israelite entry into Canaan and Zertal’s altar. b. The location problem. Prior to crossing the Jordan into Canaan, Moses gave these instructions to the Israelites: So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime. Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them. You shall build the altar of the Lord your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the Lord your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very distinctly. . . . Moses also charged the people on that day, saying, “When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. The Levites shall then answer and say to all the men of Israel with a loud voice . . .” (Deut 27:4–8, 11–14, NASB). Following the conquest of Jericho and Ai, Joshua carried out the commands of Moses: Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no man had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. He wrote there on the stones a copy of the laws of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel. All Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had given command at first to bless the people of Israel. Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them (Josh 8:30–35, NASB). It is clear from these passages that the people were gathered in the narrow Shechem pass between Mt. Gerizim on the south and Mt. Ebal on the north for this covenant ceremony, and that they were able to see and hear all that was going on. Joshua constructed the altar Moses commanded on the north side of the pass, at/on Mt. Ebal.[61] Zertal’s altar, on the other hand, is located on the other side of the mountain, 3.2 km map distance north-northeast of the Shechem pass,[62] “on a low, stony ridge,

10 Mar 11 “Just Married” With Fardeen

“Just Married” With FardeenBy: Pawan Kumar .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Two strangers bee panions for life after an arranged marriage and go on a honeymoon in Ooty where they discover the obvious awkwardness that any relatively-not-known-to-each-other couple feels when it es to consummating their marriage.But Meghna Gulzar’s movie Just Married is not about sex. It is about belief, trust, understanding and love between two people who have to share their lives together. Although the movie bears a resemblance to Reema Kagti’s Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. that we saw a few weeks back, Meghna gives her own treatment to the story and its characters.The film has Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol playing a couple (Abhay and Ritika) who are arranged married after just a sole meeting. Thereafter they go on a five-day honeymoon in Ooty. Knowing that they have to consummate their marriage, there is a natural nervousness on the part of Ritika. But Abhay is of understanding nature. He tries to make Ritika fortable.During their honeymoon, Abhay and Ritika meet a number of other couples: a happy, nagging couple married for 40 years (Kiron Kher and Satish Shah), a Muslim couple (Mukul Dev and Sadiya Siddiqui), a bold and passionate couple (Perizaad Zorabian and Bikram Saluja) and a young couple (Tarina Patel and Raj Zutshi).After a gripping half an hour, the movie’s story basically dabbles on little instances in the lives of Abhay-Ritika and other couples. There are tiffs and teasings, fallouts and making-ups, rendezvous and revelations.The movie’s climax is a little amateurish and filmy. The end is predictable.‘Just Married’ is a sweet, mellow film that promises nothing more than some interesting vignettes from the lives of honeymooning couples. Behind the tiffs and arguments there is love blooming gradually. It only needs a moment of realization that es at the movie’s fag end when Ritika realizes that she loves her husband.The movie rests on mendable performances by Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol in the lead roles. Fardeen portrays the myriad emotions of his character with conviction while Esha slips well into the role of a coy, shy and evasive wife.Kiron Kher and Satish Shah stand out among the other couples in the film. Their performance is very natural. Perizaad Zorabian looks stunningly gorgeous and Bikram Saluja plays his part well. The other couples don’t get ample footage.Meghna’s direction is more confident this time than her previous movie ‘Filhaal’. Although the film bees a tad slow in the middle, it picks up pace in the last half hour. The film’s music by Pritam is just about okay. In a nutshell, ‘Just Married’ makes for a timepass watch.REPRINT RIGHTS statement: This article is free for republishing by visitors provided the Author Bio box is retained as usual so that all links are ActiveLinkable with no syntax changes.Article Source: abcarticledirectoryAuthor Pawan Kumar is associated with Fardeen Khan, click here for hot fardeen khan wallpapers.Note: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Pawan KumarRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 of Ratings = 1 Rating = 55 Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Movies Film via RSS!Additional Articles From - Home Arts Movies FilmWhy Calibrate your High Definition TV?- By : Robert ShefferSweet Phone - By : Tim Webb.Find out Home Theater Methods! What You have Been Missing in Your TV and Movie Encounter.- By : Joesph MellbergPreparing and Setting up a Home Theater system is Easier Than you Think!- By : Zachariah DivensGrown Ups 2010 Movie In Review- By : Elenor CherryCamera Crew Hire- By : Mark A. WilsonReview of Drive Angry Movie- By : Gursel BatmazReturn Of The Horror Legend: Scream 4- By : Gursel BatmazMovie Review: Clash Of The Titans Leaves Audiences Wanting- By : Elenor CherryRed Riding Hood The Movie- By : Gursel Batmaz Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

5 Mar 11 Internet Affiliate Marketing Can Also Go Offline

Internet Affiliate Marketing Can Also Go OfflineBy: Michael Laleye .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet You own a website and have teamed with many others on the internet through internet affiliate marketing, in hopes of earning sales commissions on products and services the others offer. It only makes sense that the majority of your affiliated sites also offer online transactions since the web surfer is the target of your marketing.However, there is no reason you cannot use internet affiliate marketing to workNHL Shop
with service businesses that conduct their business offline. For example a used car lot may have a website that lists and displays a portion of its inventory and you guide potential customers to the site. The customer then wants to call the dealer to verify the availability of an advertised vehicle. Using affiliate software that that can track calls, you could still get credit for the sale and earn a commission.Additionally, some service companies do not have an online presence, such as hair dressers or even attorneys. Working out an affiliate agreement with them, a small card could be printed out on their home computer with information linking the coupon with your site. By including a map to the business along with other pertinent information, it can be taken to the business and they would know from which site the lead came from for proper affiliate credit.However, the majority of affiliate marketing is conducted through other internet businesses that utilize software tracking, automatically assigning you a tracking number. When a person visits your site, clicks on an affiliate link and makes a purchase from the affiliated site, you receive credit for the sale and earn a commission. Since most buyers are already online, making the transition to another site is simple for them and tracking is automatic.As a business, there are many advantages to joining in the affiliate marketing craze as it can greatly enhance your presence in cyberspace. The key to success for any online business is being able to be found on the internet. Having thousands of other websites posting an ad for your business, for which you pay only if you get results, adds to your traffic and your sales.An advantage to the affiliate websites is that it appears to have advertising on it from other website. Visitors viewing an affiliate site have no way to determine ifMontreal Canadiens jersey
the referrals are paid advertising or not, which can add a degree of credibility to that site as well. You will also receive points from internet search engines for having additional links to your site. Although graphic links do not garner as many points as text links, the more quality links you can obtain, the better.Affiliate marketing programs are a win-win situation for both parties as the site gets additional exposure and traffic and the affiliate can earn money through the commissioned sales.Article Source: http://www.shop-on-sale.com Michael Laleye Is A Plug In Profit Site Member As Well As An Authority On Developing Home Based Affiliate Businesses Online. Get more Information On How To Build Your Own Home Based Internet Business. For Internet Business Ideas To Make Money Online, Visit: www.MyAffiliateStarter.comNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Michael LaleyeRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Affiliate Programs What Cloth Diaper Provides The Top Match For Newborns?- By : mirtagaylWhat is Affiliate Marketing and Why You Should Do It?- By : James A AndersonEarning Money Quickly With Email Marketing - True or False?- By : chad buistMoney Creating Tips For Individuals Involved In An Online Affiliate Marketing Home Business- By : Johnny BarrellGlobal Success Club And How To Make Money Canadiens jersey
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24 Jan 11 South Carolina Gamecocks Alshon Jeffery: The Nation's Best Wide Receiver?

Pumpin' Gas into the USC OffenseKevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesSo much for Lane Kiffin's bold prediction that Alshon Jeffery will be pumping gas after going to South Carolina. More like pumping out touchdowns at the NFL level. While the Gamecock headlines mostly read about freshman sensationDallas Cowboys jersey
Marcus Lattimore, Stephen Garcia, or the never-ending drama with Spurrier and backup Connor Shaw, Alshon Jeffery is quietly putting together one of the finest receiving campaigns in the history of South Carolina football. For those of you that do not know any better, you will say "So what; it is only South Carolina!". South Carolina has had its fair share of great wide receivers. Kenny McKinley (R.I.P.) finished third in the SEC for all-time receptions and owns almost every South Carolina receiving record. Sidney Rice is a bona fide NFL star and is GREATLY missed by Brett Favre. Troy Williamson made a mockery of opposing defenses when he played, emerging as the NCAA's biggest deep threat for years, and Sterling Sharpe is an NFL legend. Alshon is currently a true sophomore, which make his statistics even more amazing. He is also playing on a team that runs more than it passes and is suffering a seemingly never ending QB controversy. (On a side note, Stephen Garcia is currently 19th in college football in passing efficiency Denver Broncos jersey
and has thrown five touchdowns to two interceptions, while completing a high percentage of his passes. Not sure WHY there is a controversy, but that is a story for another day.)Look at these stats, and think about the situation he is in. He has 27 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns. He averages 18.5 yards per catch and 124.5 yards per game. His touchdowns are lower because the Gamecocks hand the ball to Lattimore when they get close, but the rest of his stats are truly amazing. He leads college football in receiving yards, and is third in yards per game. He does this on a running team. It is truly amazing. Currently, his career stats are 73 receptions for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns. This is through roughly 17 games. Five of those games were spent as a backup. So in a technicality, he has only fully played in 12 games as a starter. His 6'4", 233 pound frame screams NFL. He has also destroyed most corners. While he is no blazer, his hands and size make him potentially the most dangerous wide receiving threat in college football. He has been compared to the likes of Terrell Owens and Randy Moss minus the attitude. He is always the last one out of practice and always stays to catch extra balls from the coaches. He claims that since it worked for him in high school, it will work for him in Detroit Lions
college. He has never been in any sort of trouble while at the university. Those who have seen him play have come to respect him. Auburn fans (even though South Carolina lost) were amazed at his ability. Comments from fans were along the lines of, "You guys have a beast out there at wide receiver." The argument could be made that he is the best in college football. I would buy that.

22 Jan 11 Oklahoma Sooners Report Card for Air Force Game

The Oklahoma Sooners are a very different team this year. They have managed to stay relatively healthy, along with winning close games that they would have lost a year ago. However, these close games that the Sooners have won, against Utah State and now Air Force, are games that really shouldn't have been as close as they were. But for now, a win is a win and the Sooners are 3-0 after a 27-24 victory over Air Force yesterday at Owen Field. The Sooners jumped out to a 27-10 fourth quarter lead before allowing Air Force to score twice and make a ball game of it again. Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
couple of late first downs iced the game for Oklahoma, but fans still left the stadium wondering what the true identity of this Sooner team is. This week is a tough one to grade because Air Force is a quality team and runs a very interesting offense. The triple-option is not something that you see everyday and it caused some problems for the Sooners throughout the game. Fortunately, the Sooners contained it enough to get the win. Here are this week's scores. Quarterback: B-Landry Jones is the epitome of this identity crisis the Sooners are in. After a romp over Florida State in which Jones looked every bit the Heisman candidate, Jones came back down to earth with a very modest game. While Jones didn't make mistakes that cost the Sooners the game, he didn't make a ton of plays either and was off the mark a lot, particularly in the first half. It seems that Jones doesn't have the confidence in himself to put the ball on the money against a good defense. He also needs to learn when to get rid of the ball and stop trying to make a play that isn't there. That's cost Oklahoma several sacks this year. There is no doubt that Jones is a better quarterback than last year, but he still has a long way to go. Running Backs: B+For the second straight week, Oklahoma failed to establish a really consistent running attack, rushing for 113 yards on 34 attempts. DeMarco Murray had a big day for the Sooners, with 26 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns, but no one else really did anything. Mossis Madu only got three carries and Jones was sacked a couple of times, but did have a couple of nifty scampers early in the game. Murray has proven his mettle at being able to carry the ball a lot during games. However, Oklahoma needs to work harder at establishing the running game, or defenses will begin to sit back more on the pass.Wide Receivers: A-A lot could've happened had Jones been more on target with some of his passes, but overall, this unit did a great job of making plays and then fighting for yards after the catch. Ryan Broyles had another great game with 10 catches for 116 yards, but no touchdowns. Murray caught Jones' only touchdown pass of the day on a screen pass that put the Sooners up 17 in the fourth. There were a couple of drops in the unit, but they stepped up and made plays against a very good Air Force secondary. Their performance was encouraging, to say the least.Offensive Line: B-Like many parts of OU's performance on Saturday, the offensive line wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. The line did a good job of giving Jones time to throw the football, but struggled at picking up blitzes from time to time. Another problem was the fact that Sooners averaged less than four yards a carry on the ground for the second straight week. Against an obviously smaller and less athletic defensive front, the O-line should have been able to have their way with the Falcons, especially as the game wore on. Things did improve on the ground later in the game as Murray began to pick up nice chunks of yards, but it should have been a lot better than what it was. Still, like Jones, there is no doubt this unit has improved a lot since last year and is continuing to get better.Defensive Line: CAir Force's most consistently successful play came on fullback dives right up the middle. The Falcon offensive line was able to push Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
the tackles off the ball and pick up five yards pretty much all day long. That's inexcusable for a talented Oklahoma front. The defensive ends did a solid job of sticking to their gaps and staying disciplined on sweeps, but they too were burned at times by the speed and deception of the triple option offense. Linebackers: BThe linebackers did a good job of closing to the football and making stops before the play got out of hand. Consistency on that was a bit of an issue, but not too terrible. It's hard to gauge a defense's performance against such a tough offense. Overall, the linebackers did a good job of closing down and making plays when they needed to be made. Many missed tackles though, but that was the case for the whole defense, not just this unit. Secondary: COnce again, the secondary was burned constantly. Quarterback Tim Jefferson completed 8-of-14 passes against the Sooner secondary with almost every single pass being nothing more than some form of a slant over the middle. The Sooners were always caught behind the receiver giving Jefferson a nice window to deliver the football. The corners and safeties have to become more aggressive at defending the pass. Ten yard cushions are plain crazy to give up when you have a 3rd-and-7 situation. That's just not smart football. Special Teams: AJimmy Stevens took over the placekicking duties for injured Patrick O'Hara, who sat out the game with a muscle strain, and performed extremely well, making all three extra points and both field goals. Stevens is a very solid kicker, especially within 40 yards, so it was good to see him get on the field and perform well. Tress Way had another solid day punting the football, averaging 50 yards a boot on his four punts. Overall, Oklahoma did not play a bad game yesterday. They moved the ball fairly effectively on offense and made stops on defense as well. Like Utah State however, they seemed to mentally check out a bit once they established a 27-10 lead in the fourth quarter. These mental lapses have got to stop if Oklahoma is going to continue to win Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
football games.The Sooners hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Cincinnati next week. It should provide a good test for the Sooners who did not perform well on the road at all last year and will be looking to shed that label very quickly.

18 Jan 11 Houston's Double Injury at Quarterback Could Be Just What SMU Needs

Houston quarterback Case Keenum suffered a season ending injury Saturday against UCLA.Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesInjuries arenexactly the thing a sports fan should hope for.Sure, I hoped Barry Bonds would get a career ending injury before he broke either Mark McGwire70 home runs in a season or Hank Aaroncareer home Cincinnati Bengals jersey
run record. And when a guy on the court, ice, field, or turf is just kicking your team around you silently hope that something will happen to him and give your team a chance.Last season the SMU Mustangs were seemingly headed for another year without a bowl game. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell had underachieved in head coach June Jones offense and was having issues throwing the ball to the right team. Then it happened, in Houston, Mitchell went down with an injury. That brought in, freshman at the time, Kyle Padron. He didnlook like anything special in the rest of the game against Houston, but what he showed after that game kept Mitchell on the bench and eventually transferring to another school.This season the Mustangs could benefit from another quarterback injury in Houston. This time it isnto an SMU player, itto two Cougars.One week after suffering a mild concussion trying to make a tackle after an interception, once Heisman candidate Case Keenum did it again. He threw an interception, went to make a tackle and this time tore his ACL and is done for the season. Cleveland Browns jersey
But thatok, Houston has a backup by the name of Cotton Turner, heno Keenum but still capable of running a potent Cougar offense. Only one problem, he broke his collar bone, also out for the season. The Cougars went into the game against UCLA with a No. 23 ranking and a Heisman candidate. They left with a loss, dropping out of the top 25, and a third-string, freshman quarterback leading them.There was so much hype, so much hope and so much reverence surrounding Houston when the season started. They were going to win Conference USA West, again, they were going to send Keenum to New York for a chance at a trophy and they were going to compete with TCU and Boise State as BCS busters.Now some of that has moved into SMUcamp. Will Padron be talked about for the Heisman? Probably not. Will the Mustangs sniff a BCS game? No. But SMU has a solid shot to dominate the west in C-USA and possibly host the conference championship game in December.Now the Mustangs do still have to win the games they are supposed to; Rice, Tulsa, Tulane, and they have to get past UTEP and still beat Houston. And the Cougars have games against Tulane, Mississippi State and Rice to get third to first string freshman quarterback Terrence Broadway integrated in the offense and comfortable playing the position at the college level.There is little doubt that Broadway is a capable, talented quarterback, and that he has the ability to be a great quarterback. But for now the Mustangs hope he has some growing pains over the next couple of games culminating on Dallas Cowboys jersey
Oct. 23 at Ford Stadium.Everyone has heard that one mantrash is another mantreasure, as one door closes another one opens and one manmisfortune is anotherfortune. All the Mustangs are hoping for is a win against Houston and a chance at the conference championship. And with Keenum and Turner out of the picture itlooking like they could be well on their way.

15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams will play on new surface in 2006

The St. Louis Rams plan on playing on a new surface next year at their home stadium. The Edward Jones Dome will have FieldTurf installed in 2005 and a new long-term convertible system in place by 2006. This newer surface can be picked up in parts and moved easily to accommodate non-football events.The New Orleans Saints jersey
Rams have played on an artificial grass carpet laid over concrete since 1995. Players on the team have groused about the lack of cushion on the playing surface. However, FieldTurf has been likened to playing on natural grass.The St. Louis County and Convention and Visitors Commission leases the stadium to the Rams. The commission previously had concerns about the dome's ability to hold conventions and trade shows with the newer surface. (0) The St. Louis Rams signed cornerback Michael Hawthorne to a 1 year deal. The free agent is coming off his best statistical season.The 6'3", 204 lbs. Hawthorne played in 16 games for the first time in his career during 2004. He recorded 49 tackles, 7 deflected passes, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries for the Green Bay Packers. The former Purdue Boilermaker joined the NFL in 2000 with the New Orleans Saints. In 2003, he became a Packer. Hawthorne has totaled 150 tackles, 3 interceptions, 13 deflected passes, and 3 fumble recoveries in 58 career games. (0) The St. Louis Rams came to terms on a 1 year contract with cornerback Terry Fair. Because of injuries, Fair has not seen action on the football field since 2002.He last appeared with the Carolina Panthers in 2002. Fair participated in 3 contests that season. He then missed the entire 2003 campaign for the Panthers. After joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004, Fair was cut in the summer and again did not play in any games. The 5'9", 184 lbs. Fair is a product of the University of Tennessee. He has played for the Detroit Lions (1998-2001), the Panthers (2002-2003), and the Steelers (2004). In 55 career games, he has accumulated 212 tackles, 7 interceptions (including 2 returned for touchdowns), and 30 pass deflections.In other team news, the Rams acquired veteran CB Corey Ivy. (0) The St. Louis Rams New York Giants jersey
have decided to train at their home facility, breaking the teams tradition of practicing Western Illinois University.After moving to St. Louis, the Rams staged their initial training camp in 1995 at Maryville University in their hometown. The past 9 years, they've held workouts at Macomb, Illinois. Many teams have chosen recently to remain near home to train. Last season 12 of the 32 teams trained at their own facility, while several others practice at sites close to their home base. (0)

14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks Defense "Big Gains" Commentary

Forget the breaks and sprains that sideline Seattle's offensive superstars. Fans should be concerned with the Seahawks' defensive players: They might be relatively healthy, but they can't seem to catch anybody. Chester Taylor's 95-yard run for a touchdown in Sunday's game was the longest run against the 'Hawks since Willie Washington Redskins jersey
Parker's 75-yard scamper in Super Bowl XL. And if those were the only two long touchdowns against Seattle's defense in 2006, that would be damaging enough.But they aren't. Another loss -- a 37-6 defeat to Chicago in Week 4 -- also featured some embarrassingly long gains. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian burned Seattle for a 46-yard reception in the first quarter (when the game was still close), and followed it up with a 40-yard touchdown catch in the third (when it wasn't). A team without its playmakers on offense can't afford to give up big plays on defense. Even in victory, the offense has covered for defensive miscues. The Seattle Seahawks slipped past the Rams in Week 6, but had to overcome a 67-yard Torry Holt touchdown reception to do it. Their 21-10 win over hapless Arizona in Week 2 was impressive, except when they gave up a 40-yard touchdown to receiver Bryant Johnson. It was Johnson's only reception in the game, the Cardinals' longest gain of the afternoon and their only touchdown in the contest. When opponents hit the Seahawks for long gains, they usually make them pay. And if the offense isn't equipped to pay them back, the win-loss ledger is going to suffer.The ailing offense will grab headlines, but the team needs to start paying attention to its defensive struggles immediately. Beginning with Kansas City on Sunday, the Seahawks face a string of winnable games against teams with big-play ability. Larry Johnson and Randy Moss are scheduled to line up against Seattle's defense before a Nov. 12 rematch against Holt and the Rams. In order for the Seahawks to come out ahead in those three games, they'll need to contain opposing playmakers and give their offense a chance to find its footing. And with division-rival St. Louis tied with the 'Hawks at 4-2, there's little room for error. Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
After those contests, there's a good chance that Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander will finally be in the starting lineup together. But neither of those guys play defense. Until the team figures out how to prevent big gains, Seattle's struggles won't end when its best players get healthy. Weekly Seattle Seahawks analysis

They already have the rights to SEC Football and basketball and have been aggressive in purchasing programming

Their afternoon programming to compete with other station news programs includes top hits such as Family Guy , The Simpsons , and Two and a Half Men .Theyre also looking to expand their local news presence and are operated by the Sun-Sentinel , a local Miami newspaper (both are owned by Tribune Company, who has a similar arrangement in Chicago to the local TV station-local cable news net idea for South Florida that Im posting).Theyve already launched a morning show that has seen its rough patches but improves on its ratings daily, and with the backing of Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
the Sun-Sentinel could most likely run a 24-hour news station using up-and-coming talent that are fresh from graduation from FIU or UM to possiblyin the futurepromote into the big leagues (which in their case would be a 10 PM newscast).Plus, other than SEC football and basketball, there are no other sports programming from any networks (CW doesn have the rights to any sports coverage) and weekend programming mainly consists of re-runs and movies (and since the CW doesn program on Sunday nights, the occasional Sunday night Heat or Panthers game could find its way onto SFL schedule.).This seems way too perfect not to work, especially since Tribune has experience with their local stations airing local sports teams games (WPIX in New York with Mets, Rangers, and Knicks; WGN in Chicago with the Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, and Blackhawks).As for the other partners, well, let go with the CW affiliates in both markets: WTVX in West Palm Beach, which has no plans for a newscast but would sure welcome one either produced by WSFL but geared towards West Palm Beach (or even an hour-long newscast simulcast to both CW stations done in Ft. Lauderdale servicing both markets since Ft. Lauderdale is in the middle of both.).And for the Ft. Myers-Naples area, since their CW affiliate Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
WXCW had a newscast produced by CBS affiliate WINK, both stations could contribute and be a member of this loose network, with WINK getting some Marlins, Heat, and Panthers games in the Friday-Saturday-Sunday timeslots that theyd normally air anyways that don interfere with CBS Network programming, plus the money theyd save on their sports bureau.Of course youre thinking this wouldn work, as the station would mainly give out Marlins and Heat propaganda.Not the case.It would be independent of the two organizations, but owned under the same corporate umbrella. The reporting would have to be fair and not abused with negative attacks and editorials about departing free agents or players they want to trade (not at least without a dissenting opinion).The revenues theyd bring in with advertising and their partnerships with these stations would be enough to give the Marlins plenty of money to spend, as well as give the Heat more than enough to cover any luxury tax payments theyd have to make.Of course, all of this is just a pipe dream, but a great idea none the less. If Im the Marlins and Heat and this offer was proposed to me, Id take it in a cocaine heartbeat.What are the chances of this happening?We probably would never see it, but if anyone reads this that can make things Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
happen and get things done, they might want to forward the link to this blog in an e-mail to Mr. Mickey Arison and Mr. Jeffrey Loria, that way at least theyll waste money hiring consultants to tell them exactly what Im saying they should do and telling them for free.And if it does happen, Mr. Arison, Mr. Loria, and their consultants can take all of the credit.This article is also featured onThe Professor's World of Miscellanea

12 Jan 11 Gilbert Arenas' One-Year Suspension the Right Move

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesThe NBA finally decided what to do with Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Jarvaris Crittenton locker room gun ordeal. For those who have been living in a cave or under a rock, here is a little back story before I get into whether the NBA did the right thing.This whole Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
dispute began on Dec. 19, 2009, when Arenas and Crittenton got into an argument on the team plane over a gambling debt. The debt, which has been reported as high as $60,000, was owed to Crittenton by Arenas.Three days later, on Dec. 21 in the Wizards' locker room, Arenas laid out four guns (unloaded) on a chair in front of Crittenton locker with a note that said "choose one." Arenas supposedly brought the guns to the arena to get them out of his home after the birth of his daughter.What happened in the locker room has been disputed by nearly everyone involved. From the number of guns Arenas had (he says he stored three guns), to the story that Crittenton pulled his own gun and loaded a round in the chamber, and finally to the story that both players pulled guns and aimed at each other.While we will never know what truly happened in the locker room, we do know that Arenas has admitted to bringing guns to the arena. All the guns were stored in a lock box unloaded and without ammunition.On Christmas Eve, it was reported that the NBA was investigating the locker room incident. Shortly after the new year, Washington, D.C. police began to investigate the incident.Arenas was suspend indefinitely by NBA commissioner David Stern on Jan. 5, 2010. The night after Arenas made a shooting six-gun gesture during pregame introductions the night before.On Jan. 15, Arenas pled guilty in District of Columbia Superior Court to a felony weapons possession charge. Arenas now must wait until March 26 to find out his fate during sentencing.Crittenton, who has not played a single minute this season, pled guilty on Jan. 25 to a misdemeanor gun possession charge. He was given one year of unsupervised probation.Today, Jan. 27, Stern reached a decision as to what to do with Arenas and Crittenton. He has decided to suspend both players for the rest of this NBA season.In a statement released by Stern, he said, "The issue here is not about the legal ownership and possession of guns, either in one's home or elsewhere. It is about possession of guns in the NBA workplace, which will not be tolerated.The question now that Stern has made his ruling is did he make the right ruling. Here is a look at one professional athlete who has been in legal trouble recently with guns.The closest case to that of Arenas would have to be that of New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress. The NFL star is now in prison for taking a loaded gun into a night club and shooting himself in the thigh.Burress was suspended for the 2009-10 while he awaited trial. However, he later pled guilty and is currently serving a two-year jail sentence. Most believe that Burress will be reinstated by the NFL when his jail term is over.In all, Burress has so far been suspended for 20 regular season NFL games: the fourReebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
final regular season games of the 2008-09 season and the whole 2009-10 season.Now, back to the suspension of Arenas and Crittenton by the NBA today. Many thought at least Arenas should receive a two-year to lifetime suspension.First of all, I agree with the suspension for the rest of this season by Stern. There was no need to make the suspension any longer, especially since Arenas could miss more time if he is sentenced to a long jail term.Arenas could receive as little as probation or a suspended sentence to as much as five years in prison. If he gets any jail time, it is likely that he will stay suspended until his jail time is served.Those who believe that Arenas should be suspended longer than a year or receive a lifetime ban are just plain wrong. There are big differences in the Burress and Arenas cases.First of all, Arenas did not have a loaded gun. Yes, he did have a gun, but unless you are going to pistol whip someone, an unloaded gun cannot do much damage.Secondly, unlike the Burress case, no one was hurt when Arenas brought his guns into the locker room. Burress shot himself when his gun slipped down his pants, and he tried to grab it before it fell out his pants when he shot himself in the thigh.Finally, neither Crittenton nor Arenas tried to hide what they did. Both were, as far as we know, upfront with both the NBA and police. Burress got teammate Antonio Pierce to hide his gun, and Arenas turned his into the police.While David Stern needed to come down hard on Arenas and Crittenton for bringing guns to a NBA arena, it was not necessary to throw both or one out of the league forever or longer than a year.What both Arenas and Crittenton did was wrong and no one should bring guns to their place of work. Yes, they should have been punished. Still, no one was hurt in this whole affair.No one should be punished for what might or could have happened. Otherwise, everyone in the country should be punished for the things they have done but no one was hurt.People break the law every day and are not caught, like speeding, not wearing a seat belt, etc., and unless they hurt someone, most get into little or no trouble.Arenas was wrong for bringing a gun, but he did not hurt himself or Crittenton. There never was a shot fired by either player, and we know that Arenas never had any bullets to fire.It can be debated whether Crittenton had a gun or he even chambered a round. But we cannot start punishing people for what we cannot prove.If anyone had been shot, I am sure the suspensions would have been longer, but for the information Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
we have, a year is the right punishment. Anyone who wants more is just trying to over-punish these players for either who they are, dislike guns, or are a victim of gun violence.In a world where we already overreact to everything, we have to remember no one was hurt here, and both players have said it was a misguided attempt at humor. While the joke was wrong, the players did not hurt each other or fire their guns.

10 Jan 11 NBA Trade Deadline Lives Up To Its Promise for a Change

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesA week ago, if you weren't expecting a flurry of transactions to occur before this year's trade deadline, no one could really blame you.In years past, especially in recent memory, trade rumors fly back and forth for the weeks leading up to the deadline, only to see mid-level talents like Shawn Marion and Jermaine O'Neal be the best two players traded.Skeptics of the NBA trade deadline: This was the year to remember why you fell in love with the whole circus in the first place.As I'm writing this, it's about four hours after the trade Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
deadline has passed. There's at least one team in the league that I hardly recognize (Washington Wizards); two teams that appear to be landslide winners (Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers), and a number more (L.A. Clippers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings) that have positioned themselves to be major players in the upcoming mega-free agent class this summer.Half of the 30 teams in the league were involved in some sort of trade in the past week. The Wizards and Mavericks kicked the madness off on Saturday with a seven player swap including Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and Josh Howard; the Blazers kept it going with the Clippers on Tuesday by sending Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake to L.A. for Marcus Camby, and all trade hell broke loose yesterday, as the clock inched closer to the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline.Rumors were abound of the Cavaliers acquiring All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire from the Suns, with officials saying they'd be surprised if it didn't happen on Tuesday afternoon, as the teams returned from the All-Star break. And fans of every franchise in the NBA realized that this trade deadline certainly didn't seem typical, as the Cavs would reportedly send back Zydrunas Ilgauskas' expiring contract and second-year forward J.J. Hickson in return for the starting center for the West's All-Star team . (Yes, that had to be italicized, to emphasize the imbalance of talent for the two sides).As I said, all hell broke loose on Wednesday, with news breaking Wednesday afternoon that the Wizards had completed their firesale by trading Antawn Jamison to the Cavs in a three-team deal that cemented the Cavs' spot as favorite in the East. Cleveland sent a whole bunch of expiring contracts, and their first round pick (which, in all likelihood, will be No. 29 or 30), for a two-time All-Star that fits their desire for a "stretch 4."By this point, there should have been alarms going off for every lottery team's fanbase:WARNING...Teams tanking left and right...ship your best player to a contender for cap space immediately or risk Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
losing your hold on a high draft pick.The Knicks, Rockets, and Kings pulled off the headline deal on Thursday , with Tracy McGrady going to the Knicks, Kevin Martin heading to the Rockets, and the Kings landing Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey, and Larry Hughes' $13 million expiring contract.When it was all said and done, 16 teams had completed transactions of some sort, either positioning themselves for the players or setting themselves up for invaluable cap relief.And that cuts to the real reason why this trade deadline featured so much action, while trade deadlines of years past faded in and out without much fanfare:Money, money, money.The NBA warned teams in the offseason that for only the second time since the salary cap was implemented in the 1983-84 season, it would be dropping next season. Teams hedging the luxury tax line will likely be millions over the cap for next season.For teams like the Wizards, that meant a slash-and-burn was in order ASAP (and if they waive Ilgauskas, they willl have succeeded getting under the cap). For teams like the Jazz, Clippers, Knicks, Bulls, and Kings, they started jockeying for free agency already; the Bulls traded to the two teams directly below them in the playoff race, as if to wave the white flag on the season before they even qualify for the playoffs.But when the clock tolled three on Thursday, it became clear that some of the transactions that occurred in the past week was one of the more seminal weeks in recent NBA history, as teams made the most profound now-or-later decision they've had to Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
make in years.I'm glad that unlike 2007, when ESPN's Bill Simmons said the NBA must stand for "No BallsAssociation" after the trade deadline, that teams made moves this year.Sure, it means that the current CBA is completely 'effed, as SI's Iam Thomsen pointed out in his analysis of the Jamison trade.And yes, the Bobcats did nearly just trade D.J. Augustin for T.J. Ford .But if nothing else, the deals in this past week gives new meaning to the NBA's slogan of "Where Anything Happens."

9 Jan 11 Magic Make Huge Mistake Against Hornets: Misuse Vince Carter Once Again!

Harry How/Getty Images About three weeks ago Vince Carter delivered one of his most impressive offensive performances in the past five years. He scored 48 points against a pretty good Hornets team. Nobody saw this coming from Vince, but he proved that he still had something left in the tank. Now 3 weeks later the Magic San Diego Chargers jersey
face the Hornets once again. This time the Hornets don't have their best player in Chris Paul. Should be an easy win for the Magic right? That's the way it seemed for three quarters of this game. The Magic kept going down low to Dwight Howard and everything seemed to be going as planned. Then the fourth quarter began and the Magic fell apart. All of the sudden Dwight Howard started having trouble with Aaron Gray and David West couldn't miss a shot. So what do the Magic do? They decide to go to their so called go-to-guy Vince Carter. There is only one problem. Carter barely touched the ball the entire second half. This could've happened against some other team, but against the Hornets Vince should've had the ball from the start. The guys dropped 48 earlier in the month on the same team! Guys like Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and even J.J. Redick were chucking up long distance jumpers even when it became obvious that the lead was slipping away from the Magic. Vince started getting the ball outside the three point line with close to 4 minutes left in the game. His shot obviously wasn't there and the Magic went on to lose the game. Is it Carter's fault that he couldn't make his shots or is it his teammates fault for not getting the ball to him earlier in the quarter? Back in the summer when The Magic aquired Carter they stated that they got him to be their closer, they promised that the ball would be in his hands when it was time to make a play at the end of the game. Vince is still a very dependable closer but a coach can't expect him to make all San Francisco 49ers jersey
his shots at the end of the game when he first touches the ball with four minutes to go. Guys like Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and even J.J. Redick are all capable shooters, but none of them are closers like Carter. So if the Magic want Vince to win games for them, they need to get him involved early in the fourth quarter or they won't be playing, never mind winning once June comes around.

9 Jan 11 Magic Make Huge Mistake Against Hornets: Misuse Vince Carter Once Again!

Harry How/Getty Images About three weeks ago Vince Carter delivered one of his most impressive offensive performances in the past five years. He scored 48 points against a pretty good Hornets team. Nobody saw this coming from Vince, but he proved that he still had something left in the tank. Now 3 weeks later the Magic San Diego Chargers jersey
face the Hornets once again. This time the Hornets don't have their best player in Chris Paul. Should be an easy win for the Magic right? That's the way it seemed for three quarters of this game. The Magic kept going down low to Dwight Howard and everything seemed to be going as planned. Then the fourth quarter began and the Magic fell apart. All of the sudden Dwight Howard started having trouble with Aaron Gray and David West couldn't miss a shot. So what do the Magic do? They decide to go to their so called go-to-guy Vince Carter. There is only one problem. Carter barely touched the ball the entire second half. This could've happened against some other team, but against the Hornets Vince should've had the ball from the start. The guys dropped 48 earlier in the month on the same team! Guys like Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis and even J.J. Redick were chucking up long distance jumpers even when it became obvious that the lead was slipping away from the Magic. Vince started getting the ball outside the three point line with close to 4 minutes left in the game. His shot obviously wasn't there and the Magic went on to lose the game. Is it Carter's fault that he couldn't make his shots or is it his teammates fault for not getting the ball to him earlier in the quarter? Back in the summer when The Magic aquired Carter they stated that they got him to be their closer, they promised that the ball would be in his hands when it was time to make a play at the end of the game. Vince is still a very dependable closer but a coach can't expect him to make all San Francisco 49ers jersey
his shots at the end of the game when he first touches the ball with four minutes to go. Guys like Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and even J.J. Redick are all capable shooters, but none of them are closers like Carter. So if the Magic want Vince to win games for them, they need to get him involved early in the fourth quarter or they won't be playing, never mind winning once June comes around.

8 Jan 11 Fantasy Basketball Box Score Breakouts: March 15, 2010

Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesHere a look at some fantasy basketball players that blew up the box score last night.Toney Douglas, New York KnicksDouglas turned in another good performance with 20 points, seven assists, and three steals. The Knicks rotation can change in an instant, but forSt. Louis Rams jersey
now roll with him.Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ersJrue did not disappoint in his cushy matchup with the Knicks. He had 18 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.Willie Green, Philadelphia 76ers Green numbers (17 points) were another example of Knicks inflation.Jason Maxiell, Detroit Pistons Maxiell keeps chugging along. He had another double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds).Michael Finley, Boston Celtics Finley had 15 points for the C. He not getting enough burn to matter.Johan Petro, Denver Nuggets Petro had his second double-double in three games. If you need rebounding in deep daily leagues, Petro could help.Mike Miller, Washington Wizards Miller had 14 points and 10 rebounds. His numbers won wow you, but he useful in daily leagues.Sundiata Gaines, Utah Jazz Gaines had 15 points against the Wizards. Overlook this line.Chris Hunter, Golden State Warriors Hunter had 22 points and seven rebounds against the Lakers. Their rotation is crazy. Anthony Morrow and C.J. Watson appear to be on the outs. Reggie Williams had a decent run and played just four minutes. Hunter big game came out of nowhere.Morris Peterson, New Orleans Hornets Mo Pete had 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists against the Clippers. He averaging 10.2 points and 5.0 rebounds. DeAndre Jordan, Los Tennessee Titans jersey
Angeles Clippers Jordan had 11 points and 11 rebounds. He picked up his play a bit, but is still not a real solid player.Travis Outlaw, Los Angeles Clippers Outlaw had 13 points and seven rebounds. He averaging 15.3 points in his last three games. Originally published at LestersLegends.com .