https://www.echeat.com/ Lin was born in Los Angeles, and raised in a Christian family in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Palo Alto.His parents, Lin Gie-Ming and Shirley Lin, emigrated from Taiwan to the United States in the mid-1970s, first settling in Virginia, and later residing in Indiana, where they both attended universities.They are dual nationals of both Taiwan and the U.S.Lin's paternal family comes from Beidou, Changhua, in Taiwan (his father's distant ancestors immigrated to Taiwan from Zhangpu County, Fujian, in mainland China, in 1707),while his maternal grandmother immigrated to Southern Taiwan in the late 1940s from Pinghu, Zhejiang in mainland China. Lin's parents are both 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall.His maternal grandmother's family was tall, and her father was over 6 feet (1.8 m).Lin has an older brother, Josh, and a younger brother, Joseph.Gie-Ming taught his sons to play basketball at the local YMCA.Shirley helped form a National Junior Basketball program in Palo Alto where Lin played. She worked with coaches to ensure his playing did not affect academics. She was criticized by her friends for letting Lin play so much basketball, but she allowed him to play the game he enjoyed. In his senior year in 2005–2006, Lin captained Palo Alto High School to a 32–1 record and upset nationally ranked Mater Dei, 51–47, for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division II state title. He was named first-team All-State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year, ending his senior year averaging 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 steals. Lin sent his résumé and a DVD of highlights of his high school basketball career to all the Ivy League schools, University of California, Berkeley, and his dream schools Stanford and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Pac-10 schools wanted him to walk-on, rather than be actively recruited or offered a sports scholarship. Harvard and Brown were the only teams that guaranteed him a spot on their basketball teams, but Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships. Rex Walters, University of San Francisco men's basketball coach and a retired NBA player, said NCAA limits on coaches' recruiting visits had an impact on Lin's chances. "Most colleges start recruiting a guy in the first five minutes they see him because he runs really fast, jumps really high, does the quick, easy thing to evaluate," Walters said. Lin added, "I just think in order for someone to 2012-07-11T07:09:35.977-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Jeremy-Shu-How-Lin-American-NBA-basketballer-34598.aspx Alexis Sanchez Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez (born on December 19, 1988 in Tocopilla, Chile) is a Chilean football player, who plays as a winger or forward. He is known as "El Niño Maravilla" (the Wonder Boy). Alexis was named by World Soccer Magazine as one of the '50 most exciting teenagers in the world game'. He began his professional career with the Chilean club Cobreloa. He played one season there before being signed by the Serie A team, Udinese. Udinese had 2012-06-15T06:39:24.03-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/biography-34590.aspx 2011-11-09T06:13:23.24-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/__-34313.aspx The Leadership of Michael Jordan The leader I am going to write about is Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan is a great leader. He played for the Chicago Bulls for several years and had lead the team to five championships. He then retired for a couple of years and now is playing with the Washington Wizards. Three characteristics that would describe how Michael Jordan became a leader would be respect, communication, and he is a role model. Respect- Michael Jordan has respect for the game and for his coach. He also gets respect from the other players on the team. If the other players that were on the team with Michael Jordan did not respect him, and if he did not respect the other players then they would not play like a team. When he plays, he plays his best. He always listens to what the coach and other team players have to say. If you are not respected you will never become a leader. If you don’t respect someone you are more likely not to ignore what they are saying and do the opposite in some cases. He also gets respect off the court. He does lots of community work and also helps out when the times are bad. For example, his income from this year is going to the September 11th fund. Communication- Communication is a big factor in becoming a leader. If you can not communicate with others then you are going to have a hard time becoming a leader. Michael Jordan communicates on and off the court. He has to communicate well with the other players on the team so that they can win. With out communication they would have a hard time playing as a team. Since he has become a player for the Washington Wizards, you can see that he has been communicating with the younger players. When they are playing he will help them out with new plays and show them what they did wrong during a play if something did not work out right. I have seen this happen in several of the games that I have watched on television. This shows that he can also be a leader in a situation where he is playing with younger 2007-03-04T17:32:59-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Leadership-of-Michael-Jordan-32707.aspx Biography of Dwayne Johnson also know as The Rock I read an autobiography about Dwayne Johnson. The book states that Dwayne Johnson was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California. His father’s name is Rocky Johnson, and his mother’s name is Ata Johnson. He is an only child. His grandfather’s name is Peter Maiva, and his grandmother’s name is Leah Maiva. His father being a pro wrestler caused Dwayne to attend many different elementary schools. He went to Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. While in high school he didn’t have a job, but he played football. He was named high-school all American by USA Today. After graduating from high school on February 14, 1989 Dwayne signed with the University of Miami to play football. At the University of Miami he majored in Criminology. He graduated from Miami with a GPA of 2.9. While in college he still didn’t have a job. He and some teammates went out to club called Triangle Club, there he found his future wife Dany. He and Dany got married on May 3, 1972. Dwayne and Danny have chose not to have any kids yet. Dwayne has accomplished many great things in his life. In my next few paragraphs I will focus on three of Dawn’s most important achievements. Dwayne Johnson’s first major accomplishment was how he became All-American football player in high school. First, he was the captain of his team. Next, Dwayne was named one of the top fifty gridiron warriors in the country. Secondly, with his great playing and the heart for football in him allowed Dwayne to go to a great University. Another one of Dawn’s most important achievements was being able to play for the University of Miami. First, when he got there he was able to play more then any other freshman. During his football days he was a star defensive lineman for the Hurricanes. He contributed greatly to the team’s National Championships in 1989 and 1991. After the season of 1993, he made a few All-American teams. Then finally he got to go into the draft for the NFL, but he never made it. The most significant achievement was making it into the WWF. First, Dwayne took the ring name of Rocky 2006-11-17T01:50:16-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Biography-of-Dwayne-Johnson-also-know-as-The-Rock-31781.aspx Biography of Female Tennis Pro Billie Jean Moffitt Billie Jean Moffitt was born November 22, 1943 in Long Beach, California. She was named Billie Jean for her who was a Navy man who served in World War II. In 1948 Billie’s brother Randy was born. At a young age Billie developed an interest in softball, basketball, and football. She was given the name “Tom Boy”, a name given to girls who happen to like sports better than little girl things. Her mother suggested a more feminine sport. Billie decided to play tennis. She saved up money for her first racquet by doing odd jobs around her neighborhood. She bought her first racquet when she was 10 years old. Billie took lessons at a public park in Long Beach with Mr. Clyde Walker. Mr. Walker taught her how to hit the ball, and immediately Billie knew she would love tennis. Billie Jean’s parents clearly spelled out neatness, discipline, patriotism, and right and wrong. They also instilled in their children a desire to win. Everyday Billie played tennis and her brother, Randy, played baseball at the park. Randy later became a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Billie entered her first tournament at age 11. When the picture of the players in the tournament was going to be taken, she was asked to stay out of the picture because she was not wearing a tennis dress. This left a deep impression on the 11 year old, and she decided then and there that someday she would make some changes in tennis. (Church, 1976) “Tennis had been played for hundreds of years before Billie Jean discovered it. In the courts of Persia and in the castles of the Middle Ages, it was first played with a hand glove, then with a paddle, and later with a racquet. From the very earliest times, tennis had been associated with the upper class. Rules and etiquette surrounding the game were very strict and prissy: only white could be worn; no one could shout at matches; only polite quiet applause was allowed. Too bad that such a marvelous sport as tennis was surrounded with such stuffiness.” (Deford, 1982) Billie Jean’s career had been a career of firsts. In 1968 she was the first woman 2006-07-29T15:50:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Biography-of-Female-Tennis-Pro-Billie-Jean-Moffitt-30783.aspx Biography of Joe Montana Joe Montana. When his name is said, sports fans all over the world begin to tremble with excitement. When it is announced over the loudspeaker at football games, fans go wild. He was the greatest quarterback to ever play the game: Quarterbacks may come and go, but none will ever be as brilliant, nor as exciting as Joe Montana. He was Joe Cool, the quarterback who never quit, the quarterback who could overcome any deficit, any pressure, and injury. Despite horrible injuries, he won more than seventy percent of the games he started during an illustrious sixteen-year career in the National Football League. Not bad for someone who had eighty-one players picked ahead of him in the 1979 draft (Miller). I remember the first time that I ever saw Joe play. It was early in the 1988 season, against the New York Giants. Games versus home teams (Giants and Jets) and prime time games are just about the only times the New York audience get chances to watch the 49ers on television during the season. I was lucky, because in the first football game that I ever saw, I got to see the 49ers and Montana's magical play and greatness. The 49ers were down 17-13 in the fourth quarter with about three minutes remaining and Joe sprung into action by driving the 49ers down the field seventy or so yards and won the game with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Freddie Soloman. The final score was 20-17, another comeback performance for the king of comebacks, Joe Montana. He instantly became my favorite player and the 49ers became my favorite team. Later that year, during the playoffs, I saw the 49ers (with awesome performances by Joe Montana, Roger Craig, Jerry Rice, John Taylor, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, and company) destroy all their opponents by at least twenty points a game and go to Super Bowl XXIII. This was my first Super Bowl, and Joe Montana shone when it was most needed. With less than two minutes remaining, he drove the 49ers ninety-two yards and hit receiver John Taylor for a thirty-four yard touchdown to win the game. A sterling performance by teammate Jerry Rice kept Joe from winning his third MVP trophy. Ever since the 1988-1989 season, I've been an avid fan of Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. No one on and off the 2006-06-16T18:49:34-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Biography-of-Joe-Montana-29646.aspx The Career of Basketball's Michael Jordan Michael Jordan is the Chicago Bulls superstar who beat Charles Barkley and Akeem Olajuwon for Rookie of the Year Honors in 1985. Perhaps, he is the greatest player to ever play the game....he even has six championship rings to back up his claim, including 3 straight from 1991-1993, and 3 more in 1996-1998. Michael was named the NBA Finals MVP in all of those titles. He's won them all with Scottie Pippen. In 1991, Jordan's Bulls finally overcame the greatest impediment to their team's success, Isiah Thomas' Detroit Pistons, who had regularly eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs. In 1993 he averaged 41.0 ppg in the finals, for a record. This 6-6 superstar guard is a perennial NBA first teamer (10 times from 1987-1993 and 1996 and again as a unanimous selection in 1997 and 1998). He was once again an All-NBA First Team member in 1996 after making his return from baseball. You can always pencil Mike in as the starting guard for the all-star game (13 appearances in 1985 and from 1987-1993, 1997-1998 and again in 2002). He started for the ninth time in 1997, as the first player EVER to receive more that 2 million votes. In the 1997 Game he became the first player ever to record a triple double in the all-star game with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 asssists. Jordan was not named MVP that year (Glen Rice received that honor), but he did win the Game's MVP award in 1988 after scoring 40 points and again in 1996. Jordan was once again elected to start (10th time in 12 appearances) in 1998 after leading the eastern conference in voting. After coming out of retirement, Jordan was elected to start again for the eastern all-stars in 2002. Jordan holds the record for most career scoring titles with eight, including 7 straight, also a record. He scores so many points that it is almost unfair to compare him with other players. On November 6, 1996 Michael scored 50 points for the 36th time in his career! Jordan eclipsed the 25,000 career points total, and he continues to dominate in that statistical category. He was the tenth player to score that many points, accomplishing the feat against San Antonio on November 30, 1996, with his 35th point of the game. On January 4, 2001 Michael Jordan scored his 30,000 career 2006-06-16T14:38:20-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Career-of-Basketball-s-Michael-Jordan-29598.aspx Baseball Legend Jackie Robinson The Roaring Twenties of this country was a time when the entire sports world blew up into the major worldwide business that it is now. Baseball was one sport that really profited from the country’s sporting obsession, and baseball became one of the most popular sporting events to attend. Not only was it a game played by adults but it was also a family event that entire families could go to. By the beginning of the decade baseball had it’s first $100,000 deal when George Herman Ruth was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000. The game became more than a game, it became a business. It was the emergence of the superstar, and players were making a living off of being a professional baseball player. Babe Ruth became more than a player he became an idol that was more noticeable than the President of the United States. Other superstar players emerged along with Ruth in the twenties, such players as Lou Gehrig, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and Ty Cobb became players that were in a way bigger than the game. They became the superstars of the league, partying like college frat boys with endless amounts of money and the celebrity to take them anywhere. They became names that were common in households nationwide, and became heroes for young children to look up to and play after. The 1927 Yankees known as one of the best baseball teams ever, were around with stars like Ruth, Gehrig, and Tony Lazerri, is still considered one of the best teams ever assembled. This is the team that young little leaguers would play dreaming one day to play in the pinstripes of a Yankee uniform, playing under the lights of the House that Ruth Built. Players were now accepting a whole new role as baseball players, becoming idols of children, and they started gaining the celebrity that some of the Hollywood stars did not even have. Babe Ruth’s impact on the game of baseball was almost as mammoth as his home runs. When Ruth entered the league it was in its fragile, fledgling stages, and the enormous awe-inspiring slugger brought the game back into its flashy superstar filled game that it was. Ruth was different than most stars of 2006-06-15T16:11:02-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Baseball-Legend-Jackie-Robinson-29544.aspx Chicago Black Sox Scandal The 1919 World Series is home to the most notorious scandal in baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds. Details of the scandal and the extent to which each man was involved have always been unclear. It was, however, front-page news across the country and, despite being acquitted of criminal charges, the players were banned from professional baseball for life. If anything can be said in their favor the players on Charles Comiskey's 1919 Chicago White Sox team had plenty to complain about. Together they formed the best team in baseball, yet they were paid a paltry sum compared to what many players on other teams received. Comiskey's contributions to baseball are unquestionable, but he was very selfish when it came to salaries and also liked to rule his team with an iron fist. The White Sox owner paid two of his greatest stars, outfielder "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and third baseman Buck Weaver, only $6000 a year, despite the fact that players on other teams with half their talent were getting $10,000 or more. For Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte, there was another source of irritation: in the fall of 1917, when Cicotte approached a 30-win season that would win him a promised $10,000 bonus, Comiskey benched the star pitcher rather than be forced to come up with the extra cash. The players had few options in dealing with their owner. Because of baseball's reserve clause, any player who refused to accept a contract was prohibited from playing baseball on any other professional team. Its no wonder ball players become bitter with owners. To make matters worse, the White Sox players did not get along with each other. The team was divided into two factions; one led by second baseman Eddie Collins and the other by first baseman Chick Gandil. Collins's faction was educated, sophisticated, and able to negotiate salaries as high as $15,000. Gandil's less polished group, who only earned an average of $6,000, bitterly resented the difference. In 1918, with the country disrupted by World War I, interest in baseball dropped to an all-time low. The 1919 World Series was the first national championship after the war, and baseball and the nation were eager to get back to “regular” life. Postwar enthusiasm for baseball soared. National interest in the Series was so high 2006-03-19T09:51:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Black-Sox-Scandal--28582.aspx Julius Erving was born in Hempstead, Long Island. His father left the family when Julius was only three. His mother worked as a domestic to support her three children. The family lived in a public housing project, and life was difficult, Mrs. Erving worked to instill a sense of self worth in her children, and young Julius realized his gift for basketball could be a ticket to a better life. By age ten, Julius was averaging eleven points a game with his Salvation Army team. When Julius Erving was 13, his mother remarried, and the family move to the nearby town of Roosevelt. There, Julius maintained a high academic average and played on the high school team, all county and all-Long Island teams competing in state-wide tournaments. Erving acquired the nickname “the Doctor” while still at Roosevelt High. His teammates would later alter this to “Dr. J.” The basketball coach at Roosevelt High, Ray Wilson, introduced young Julius to Coach Jack Leaman of the University of Massachusetts. After high school, Erving entered the university, where Ray Wilson was hired as assistant coach the following year. At Massachusetts, Erving broke freshman records for scoring and rebounding, leading his team through an undefeated season. The next year, he had the second best rebound tally in the country. Over the summer, he joined an NCAA all-star team touring Western Europe and the Soviet Union. He was voted most valuable player on the tour. Julius Erving left the University to go professional after his junior year. He is one of only seven players in the history of NCAA basketball to average over 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. In 1971, Julius Erving began his professional career with the Virginia Squires of the American Basketball Association. The ABA was fighting an uphill to gain the same recognition enjoyed by the more established National Basketball Association. Julius Erving, or Dr. J, as fans now called him, did more than anyone else to win that recognition for the new association. In his first pro season, Dr. J, ranked sixth in the ABA in scoring, third in rebounding. He was voted ABA Rookie of the Year at the close of the season. The following year, he lead the ABA in scoring, averaging 31.9 points per game. In 1973, Dr. J attempted to sign with the Atlantic Hawks of the NBA, and found himself on the middle of a complicated legal wrangle. The Squires claimed he 2005-10-30T19:29:10-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Julius-Eriving--28073.aspx Michael Jordan Biography The early years. Michael Jordan was one of five children born to James and Delores Jordan. He was born February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn. The Jordans' felt that the streets of Brooklyn were unsafe to raise a young family of five children. Instead of trying to endure the streets of Brooklyn, the Jordan family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. James got a job in Wilmington as a mechanic and Delores got a job as a teller at United Carolina Bank. The Jordan's always stressed the value of manners to their children. The above examples typified Michael Jordan's early years. Michael's first love. Michael always had an eye for baseball. He played as an outfielder and as a pitcher. When he was twelve, he was the top player in his league. Michael had his picture placed in the Morning Star, which is Wilmington's newspaper. By the age of fifteen, he wasn't the star in baseball he once was. He was still very good, but he had lost some of his focus. Later, in his high school career, he dropped baseball to pursue another interest. Basketball and Michael. When Michael was younger he adopted the game of basketball. Mike used to work with his father in the garage. While working with his father, Michael picked up the habit of sticking his tongue out in an intense situation. When Michael reached the ninth grade, he tried out for basketball. Coach Lynch, Michael's coach, cut Michael which in turn may have made the best player alive today. Michael then took practicing basketball to another level. He played his brother Larry whenever he could. Michael never expected what would come in the near future. The College Years. Michael Jordan went to the University of North Carolina as a basketball recruit. Even though Jordan at 6'5' was a man with potential, he still studied very hard in an attempt to get a good education, while competing in sports. Mike wasn't expected to be a star of the Tar Heels, since they had players such as James Worthy, Sam Perkins, and Al Wood. By the end of the 1981-82 season, Jordan, as a freshman, was an everyday starter. Carolina reached the Final 2005-08-14T00:15:14-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Famous-Baskteballer-Michael-Jordan-s-Biography-27610.aspx Dirk Nowitzki Biography, Famous Immigrant Essay For my immigrant project, I interviewed Dirk Nowitzki. Dirk Nowitzki is the 25 year-old superstar forward/center of the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. In order to paint a picture of Dirk in your mind, imagine a man 12 inches taller than the average man with long blonde hair. Dirk stands at just over 7'0 tall, and 240 pounds. Some say he is the next Michael Jordan, just a half-foot taller. Dirk Nowitzki was born in Wurzburg, Bavaria, Germany, on June 19, 1978. Growing up with athletic parents, it was not hard for Dirk to excel in sports, particularly handball, basketball, and tennis. His mother, Helga, was a very talented basketball player herself. When basketball, rather than handball, proved Dirk's true passion, there was a momentary disappointment on the part of the elder Nowitzki, but it soon faded. While in his early teens, Dirk suffered a fever during which he experienced a notable "growth spurt." He wondered about how tall he may be, so his parents took him to a doctor. The doctor informed them that Dirk would surpass approximately 6'7 by his 16th birthday. This almost certainly confirmed his fate as a basketball player. During 1993, around his 15th birthday, Dirk met his mentor, former national player Holger Geschwindner, whose unconventional, think outside-the-box approach to training enhanced Dirk's talent but expanded it, utilizing such other areas of learning as music, fencing, and ballet to improve his skills. Nowitzki was now a complete, well-rounded basketball player that many teams would kill to have. Dirk graduated from the Rontgen-Gymnasium school, and then spent a mandatory year in the German Army, where he would later say he learned what it was he wanted in life. In 1998, he played in the Nike Hoop Summit, where the multi-talented player impressed NBA scouts. Dirk Nowitzki now considered the prospect of immigrating to America, to pursue his passion for basketball. He was placed in the 1998 NBA draft, so he immigrated to the United States in 1998. Dirk was drafted in first round, pick number 9 of the draft to the Milwaukee Bucks, but he was quickly traded to the Dallas Mavericks. General Manager Don Nelson predicted Dirk would be Rookie of the Year. It was not to be that simple for the young immigrant. First, the season had been postponed by a labor dispute, which delayed the beginning of the season 2005-08-01T07:47:17-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Dirk-Nowitzki-Biography,-Immigration-Success-Essay-27512.aspx "I never wanted to be mediocre at anything. I wanted to be the absolute best," says Deion Sanders Deion Sanders is the only player to have appeared in a Super Bowl and World Series. For his first five seasons in the NFL, Deion Sanders played for the Atlanta Falcons, who dressed in black and white.Starting with the Falcons, Sanders has been selected for the Pro Bowl eight times. Those colors fit him well. With Sanders, there are no shades of gray. Strutting into the end zone on a long return, he inspired just as many cheers on Sunday as he did critics on Monday. "Some people will come out to see me do well," he said. "Some people will come out to see me get run over. But love me or hate me, they're going to come out." Sanders is the only man to have played in a Super Bowl and a World Series. While nowhere near as proficient in baseball as he was in football, Sanders was an outstanding base stealer who was a mediocre hitter. Back to the NFL: In 1996 with the Dallas Cowboys he became the first regular starter on offense and defense in 34 years. But make no mistake, with eight Pro Bowl selections as a cornerback, defense is where Sanders earns his big bucks. After intercepting 30 passes in his first six seasons, quarterbacks stopped throwing his way. Sanders, who earned back-to-back Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers and Cowboys, is a big-play guy. He holds the NFL record for career returns for touchdowns with 19 (nine on interceptions, six on punts, three on kickoffs and one on a fumble). He also has three touchdown receptions. Off the field, his value comes in being "Prime Time." A prominent pitchman for Nike and Visa, he cashes in on a flamboyant, jewelry-laden persona that is not limited to the playing field. As a Florida State senior, Sanders arrived for the climactic home game against Florida in a white limousine. He emerged wearing a tuxedo. "How do you think defensive backs get attention?" Sanders said. "They don't pay nobody to be humble." He was born Aug. 9, 1967, in Fort Myers, Fla. By the time he was eight, he was playing organized baseball and football. At North Fort Myers High School, Sanders played cornerback and quarterback. He was all-state in football, baseball and basketball. After scoring 30 points in a basketball game, a friend 2005-07-08T16:02:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Deion-Sanders-Biography--27266.aspx "My idol a lot of times is Charles Barkley. I wish I could say what he says," says Wayne Gretzky The approval meter always had two ends and no center, just the way Charles Barkley liked it. You either enjoyed Barkley's rough and tumble basketball style and his shoot-from-the-hip mouth, or you hated it. The wide-bodied forward left no room for middle ground. Charles Barkley, chosen fifth in the 1984 draft by the 76ers, was named to the NBA all-rookie team. His coaches, for the most part, loved him. They marveled at his deft touch, his extraordinary rebounding skills -- he averaged 10 or more rebounds a game in 15 of his 16 NBA seasons -- and his clutch play. They learned to live with his outbursts that often led to technical fouls and fines. "With Charles, you've just got to accept the whole package," said his Philadelphia 76ers coach, Jimmy Lynam. "He's an emotional player, and that emotion is what makes him great." Barkley, whose all-star career ended in 2000, rarely saw moderation as part of his game, or his life. He blew kisses to opposing fans while at Auburn and grinned when they'd poke fun at his eating habits by delivering pizzas to the court. "I really don't eat that much," said the 6-foot-4½ Round Mound of Rebound, whose playing weight fluctuated between 250 and 280 pounds in college. "I just, more or less, tend to eat all the time." In the NBA, Sir Charles frolicked with team mascots during timeouts, berated referees and chatted up cheerleaders. He talked almost non-stop. "That makes the game easier for me," he said, "because I'm always relaxed." Barkley's impulsive manner created waves, though the media and many fans liked his frankness and humor. In 1991, he suggested that the 76ers would retain Dave Hoppen because the club didn't want an all-black team, igniting a racial firestorm in Philadelphia. That same year, in his aptly named autobiography, "Outrageous," he cited the shortcomings of some league players, including teammates. He once joked after a tough game that he felt like going home and beating his wife, and pickets from women's groups soon appeared outside the Spectrum. "I don't think of myself as giving interviews," said the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player. "I just have conversations. That gets me in trouble." He said frequently that he had no regrets for anything he said or did, except for a 1991 night in New Jersey when 2005-07-08T15:44:08-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/The-Life-of-Charles-Barkley-27265.aspx A biography of Bruce Lee's early years, before being acclaimed the "greatest martial artist of all times." Bruce Lee. It’s one of the most recognizable names in the world. Many people know that Lee was a budding motion picture star at the time of his death. Others recognize Lee for his great foresight and innovative contributions to the martial arts. But few people know of Lee’s tumultuous struggle to overcome racism and bridge the gap between White and Asian Americans. Lee was actually born in America. The year was 1940, the “Year of the Dragon,” according to the Chinese calendar. His parents were touring the U.S. as performers with the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera, when the time arrived for Bruce’s birth. He was born on November 27, in the Jackson Street Hospital, at approximately 6:00 a.m., which coincidently was also the “Hour of the Dragon.” He was given the name, Lee Jun Fan. Bruce (a name he would later adopt upon returning to the United States) was barely three months old when he made his debut in the theatrical world. He was “given” the part in a production, playing the part of a female infant. A few months later, Bruce’s parents returned to Hong Kong and resumed their performing careers. At age 6, Bruce auditioned for, and was given a role in a Hong Kong movie entitled, “The Beginning of a Boy.” Bruce was only 6 years old and “smitten by the acting bug.” Not long after, he auditioned for a starring role in another Hong Kong production, “The Makings of a Man.” He was not yet 10. In 1952, Bruce was enrolled in La Salle College, in Hong Kong. He had just turned 12 and his life was about to take a pivotal turn. The next year, Bruce was set upon by a small group of street thugs and severely beaten. Vowing to never again be a victim, he sought out Sifu Yip Man, a noted Hong Kong Master of Wing Chun Kung Fu. Despite his notoriety as a teacher, Yip Man took on very few students, but Bruce was persistent and was eventually accepted into the Kung Fu school. Bruce proved to be a hard working and capable martial arts student. And as his confidence grew, so did his other interests. He discovered dancing and soon became a celebrated performer. He would capture the Royal Crown Cha Cha 2005-06-21T05:35:05-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Bruce-lee-biography-27069.aspx David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. He is a midfielder for Real Madrid and captain of the English national team. He is noted for the quality of his crossing and ability to hit free-kicks and corners, particularly long-range free-kicks. He is married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. He started his career at Manchester United, where he spent over a decade. Manchester United 1991-2003 Beckham first signed a YTS (youth training scheme) contract (this is similar to an apprenticeship) with Manchester United in 1991, and made his League debut in 1995, aged 19. The next year he came to wider public notice when playing against Wimbledon; having spotted the opposition goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, had come forward off his line, he kicked a lob from the halfway line that went over the keeper into the net. As the controversial Eric Cantona was suspended for a large part of the 1995-96 season due to an assault on a spectator Beckham became the focus of the Manchester United marketing effort and helped the side to the Premiership and FA Cup trophies and to their dominance of domestic football. In the 1998-99 season, he was part of the United team that won the "treble" - Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, a feat unprecedented in English football, which earned the club's manager, Alex Ferguson, a knighthood. Beginning with the 2001-02 season the relationship between Ferguson and Beckham began to deteriorate though the factors contributing to this had less to do with Beckham's performance on the pitch and more to do with the continual pressures of agents and sponsors and a continuous series of leaked stories apparently originating from Victoria Beckham. This conflict reached a peak during the 2002-3 season with 'The Battle of the Boot' when after losing a match to Arsenal an enraged Fergusson reportedly castigated team members in the dressing room and then kicked a football boot that struck Beckham over the eye requiring stitches. After this episode transfer stories appearing to originate with Victoria were rife, linking Beckham with Chelsea and Barcelona. Beckham's last match for Manchester United was the final league match against Everton at Goodison Park in which he scored the winner, his last act as a player was lifting the Barclay's Premiership trophy at the match's conclusion. In total Beckham scored 86 goals in 397 games for Man 2005-06-21T05:29:59-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/David-Beckham-Bio--27068.aspx Shaquille O'Neal biography You know him on the basketball court, the silver screen and the recording studio - Shaquille O'Neal! At 7'1 and 315 pounds he is hard to miss and impossible to dis(respect). Commonly known as the player that took over the top spot after Michael Jordan's retirement, Shaq has come a long way from his humble beginnings as a "military brat". Born on March 6, 1972, in a poor area of Newark as Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, Shaq's childhood was spent with his parents, Lucille and Philip O'Neal. He has two sisters, Lateefah and Ayesha. He also has one brother, Jamal. Shaq and his family grew up on Army bases in New Jersey, Georgia, Germany and San Antonio. Growing up in different places did not allow Shaq to establish long-term childhood relationships. Making friends did not come easy for a 13 year old at 6'5". Making enemies did not come easy either. Shaq was simply an outcast during his childhood, because of his stature. In order to fit in, he entered into mischievous behavior by carrying out various childhood pranks. As his childhood pranks escaladed and he got into more trouble, Shaq changed strategies. He decided to play sports such as baseball, football and basketball. Still not in control of his ever-growing body, he did not excel in these sports. In the 9th grade he was cut from the basketball team. Lucky for Shaq, his father was transferred and Shaq ended up in San Antonio at Robert G. Cole Senior High School. He earned a place on the team and took his team to 68-1. That year he averaged 32 points, 22 rebounds and 8 blocked shots per game! Winners never quit and neither did Shaq. He continued to practice during high school and improved his game. After high school, he wrote the coach at LSU and told him that he was interested in playing for the team. Coach Brown accepted his request and Shaq became an asset to LSU. Shaq joined the NBA draft his junior year at LSU and was picked up by the Orlando Magic in the first round as the first pick! In his first year with the Magic, he was awarded the Rookie of the Year award. He was also chosen for that year's All-Star game. In his second year with the Magic, the team made it all the way to the finals for 2005-06-21T05:24:44-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Shaquille-O-Neal-biography--27067.aspx Michael Jordan Biography Michael Jordan was born on January 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in Wilmington, North Carolina. He has two brothers, is married, and has three kids. He is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time (Kornbluth). My focus will be on his hardships, accomplishments, and people who influenced him. First, I would like to touch on some general information about Michael. He wears number 23 on his jersey because he considered it to be half of his brother's number, 45. He had wanted 45 because it was his brother's number and he deeply admired his brother, but he was on the same team as his brother so he needed to pick a different number. His most well known superstition is that he wears his University of North Carolina basketball shorts under his game shorts. When Michael was a kid, his favorite sport was not basketball. In fact, it was baseball. He was a pitcher on a little league team. He played baseball because he was short (Kornbluth). Later in his life, he would try to leave the NBA and play major league baseball. Michael was not always rich. His parents had to work two and three jobs each to support the family. Before Michael's dad built him a basketball court in his back yard Michael shot, basketballs into a trash can (Kornbluth). Michael was not always good at basketball, either. People told Michael that he was too short to play basketball. Michael now stands six feet six inches tall. He also went to the school gym before school to shoot baskets, stayed after school to shoot baskets, and could be found in the school gym on weekends shooting baskets. He also played his brother, Larry, one-on-one in basketball. His brother was only a year older than Michael was, but he was much better and taller than Michael was. Michael would often times lose and end up getting in a fight with his brother. This caused Michael to be extremely determined to succeed at basketball (Kornbluth). In his sophomore year of high school, he tried out for the Varsity team. He did not make it, so he was placed on the Junior Varsity team. On the J.V. team, he averaged 28 points per game. He thought this would get the attention of the Varsity team coach. It did. However, it was not in the way 2005-05-27T05:35:12-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Michael-Jordan-Biography-26768.aspx Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. later known as Muhammad Ali, was a black boxer, and was proud of it. Many African Americans were ashamed of their color, but Ali was different. He was the first boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship 3 different times. He had a great personality and was liked by the people. During his life, he made big decisions that changed the course of his life completely. Muhammad Ali's journey through life was a great inspiration for African American people, but Ali himself inspires admiration to everybody. Muhammad Ali was a man made to box. He had a great career before him since he made his first professional fight under President Eisenhower presidency. His Professional Career was really impressive. His had a great balance and was able to move his hands and feet in great speed and coordination. Ali was said to dance in the ring while destroying his opponents. Ali started fighting at a very short age, and his first teacher was Joe Martin (Hauser 18). Through hard work and discipline, he became a professional fighter and eventually the Heavyweight champion of the world. Although he lost the title twice, he regained it three times, putting him in the history books. His boxing career was put to an end when he started suffering from Parkinson's disease. This was the end of his boxing, but his greatness will never die. Muhammad Ali was not the kind of person that gets taken away with fame and money. He is a simple, unsophisticated person with a very loving heart, and very determined (Hauser 186). He did not care much about himself, he enjoyed making people happy. While training, he let people come and see him, charging them to see the show. Doing so, he earned about $1000 a day. After the training was over, he went home and gave away every cent to needy people, especially kids (Hauser 149). This was the kind of person Ali was. His big dream was to see peace in the country, racial peace. Also, he was not totally convinced with the idea of segregation because it is not good to make people be together against their will. This way of thinking and qualities is what Malcolm X saw in Ali, and therefore thought Ali could be a great messenger for the African Americans (Hauser 110). Ali's ideas and actions distinguished him from the rest, 2004-12-12T05:41:03-05:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Muhammad-Ali-Biography-25825.aspx Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. His parents, James and Delores Jordan, moved to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was still a toddler. Jordan has two older brothers, one older sister, and one younger sister. Jordan loved to play baseball when he was a child, and also played some basketball and football. His love for basketball began when his older brother, Larry, continuously beat him in one-on-one pickup games. As with any challenge Jordan faces, this determined Michael to become a better player. Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. Instead of giving up after failing to make the team, Jordan used it to spur himself to greater achievements, practicing hour after hour on the court. "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it," Jordan said, "and that usually got me going again." He eventually made the team and led it to the state championship. Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of North Carolina. As a freshman, Jordan's ever-growing popularity began when he scored the game-winning basket in the 1982 NCAA championship game against the Georgetown Hoyas. Jordan was selected college player of the year in the 1983-84 season, and led the US Men's Basketball Team to an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics under coach Bobby Knight. Jordan left college and entered the NBA in 1984, he was selected third in the draft (First pick: Houston--Hakeem Olajuwon; second pick: Portland--Sam Bowie) by the Chicago Bulls, a team that had won only 28 games the previous season. Ironically, Jordan played in his first game as a pro against Washington on Oct. 26, 1984. Jordan became an immediate impact in the league and proved that he belonged among the elite players. He finished his rookie season as one of the top scorers in the league, averaging 28.2 points per game, was named Rookie of the Year, and also made the All-Star team. Jordan led the Bulls into the playoffs in every season, but didn't make the NBA Finals until 1991, where he led the Bulls to their first of three consecutive NBA Championships (1991, 1992, and 1993). Jordan played in the 1992 summer Olympics with the 2004-07-04T04:11:55-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Michael-Jordan-Biography-25218.aspx A Little About Kobe By Kobe Bryant I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 23, 1978 to Pamela and Joe Bryant. I have two sisters, Shaya and Sharia, who are both great athletes. The reason I have the name Kobe is unusual, and I love it. As part of our family lore, my grandmom told me when she first heard my name, she thought, "What in the world were Pam and Joe thinking naming (me) Kobe; perhaps they'll have time to change it before the birth certificate is registered. Maybe they'll give him a more conventional name." I'm happy to report my parents prevailed. My name's international flavor has served me well as I travel the globe playing basketball. I received a letter from Ghana, and the young man who wrote said his father's name is Kobe. Also, last year when I visited Japan, I got to visit the Kobe region, the source of my name. I loved Japan. It was beautiful and majestic, and the people of Kobe, who are still recovering from the earthquake of 1997, were friendly and quite knowledgeable about the NBA. As a schoolboy, I learned the fundamentals of basketball in Italy, but when I was eight or nine, basketball was not my only sport of choice. I was playing a lot of soccer at that age, too. I loved both sports. I think two things contributed to my choosing to concentrate solely on basketball. One, my annual trips back to Philly to visit with family and friends, and two, my growth spurt beginning around age 11. In Philly, soccer was not big. Basketball was. The only problem was the play was different on the Philly courts from anything I'd seen in Italy. At first, I didn't understand the school-yard rules, the trash talking, the machismo. But I learned fast how to handle myself playing Philly ball. I'd say the first big jump in my basketball skills occurred from when I was about 11 to age 13. It was at age 13 that I knew I could play with anyone. It was also at this age that I could finally beat my sisters, who are both outstanding basketball and volleyball players. My dad could still handle me, but he started cheating around this time, leaning on me, using his weight advantage to post me up. He cut me no slack. This went on until 2004-07-04T04:08:27-04:00 http://75.150.148.189/free-essay/Kobe-Bryant-Biography-25216.aspx