Alexis Gibrault asked:


Table tennis can be a really fun sport…whether on the patio on a beautiful summer afternoon or in your family’s basement for some friendly after-dinner competition. If you’re trying to decide upon on a new ping pong table, there is a lot to consider-especially if you’ve never purchased one before. This is why we’ve listed a few of our favorite table tennis and ping pong tables below, along with helpful descriptions of their quality features and specifications.

Butterfly table tennis offers some of our favorite table models for durability, convenience, and quality. Not only are they most commonly used in U.S. table tennis competitions, but they also offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor tables for your home.

· Choose from convenient fold-up rollaway models, playback tables built for solid competitive play in schools and clubs, lightweight space-saving match tables, and weather-ready outdoor party tables.

· ITTF standard measurements: 9ftX5ft with a standard height of 30inches.

· Most fold up conveniently for easy storage.

· Constructed of high grade sturdy steel.

· Table top color options.

· Come with net and posts and have safety levers for safe enjoyment.

· Price range: $400-$1500

· All of the Butterfly ping pong tables have been rendered with the utmost in German manufacturing, built for competitors and amended features for casual, affordable ease of use.

Cornilleau table tennis is another great manufacturer to look for when embarking on finding your new ping pong table.

· Have patented technologies such as the DSI locking system.

· Sturdy steel chassis construction so that you can play even on uneven surfaces.

· Choose from quality indoor and weather-resistant outdoor models; depending where you want to play the game.

· Used for both institution and club competitions as well as backyard family parties

· Easy fold-up and storage.

· Constructed of premium quality, high-density chipboard or resin laminate; and have been treated with special coatings for the outdoor elements (if outdoor table).

· Price range is typically around $575-$1600.

Double Happiness (DHS) table tennis tables offer some of the best models geared toward the beginner to moderate player, looking for great specs and features for their home.

· They offer everything from compact multi-function ping pong tables that double as all-purpose eating, playing cards, etc tables; to the more standard ITTF spec-recognized competitive table tennis tables.

· Built with superior quality tops.

· Secure steel-leg construction.

· Quick assembly functions.

· Offer height adjustment options (great for kids).

· Corner protection pads.

· Sturdy ball bearing wheels.

· Come with posts and net included.

· Price range: $250-$1800.

Joola Tables are the official table used in Olympic games, and they combine top competitive quality with an affordable price tag.

· Strong powder-coated steel construction for stability.

· High density wood composite surface tops for resolute trouble-free playing.

· Automatic locking mechanisms for safe playing and storage.

· Easy-to-maneuver swivel wheels with grip-rubber tread.

· Tournament net tension adjustments.

· ITTF standard dimensions: 9ft by 5 ft with a height of 30 inches; so make sure you have the space.

· Price range: $300-$1600

Killerspin Tables are another one of our favorites, though a bit more expensive, but offer quite a bit for the money.

· Superior quality materials.

· Compact technology folding system for easy storage and fold-up.

· Double security integrated locking systems for no-roll stability.

· Heavy-duty steel constructed legs with pin-lock technology, and large double wheels for maximum playing-permanence. Table top has been constructed with high-performance, high density fiberboard, chipboard, or resin laminate.

· All outdoor models come with weather-resistant, corrosion-free parts.

· Play doubles, one on one, or fold up the table to practice on your own.

· Price range is typically anywhere from $550 to $2000.

Prince Tables come in indoor, outdoor, and indoor/outdoor models for whatever sort of game-playing you have in mind, whether competitive or casual.

· Come in both green and blue playing surfaces.

· Compact folding technology as described above for easy storage.

· Built with top-quality table tops.

· Steel legs/apron for maximum stability.

· Some have super-sized 4.5 inch wheels and reinforced frame sides to ensure even more stability and playing permanence.

· Most will be built with the standard ITTF measurements.

· Include the net, post, and racket holders.

· The price range is a bit more moderate: $400 to $800.

Stiga Tables offer a great option for both the novice and expert table tennis player at a moderate price.

· Heavy duty steel constructed legs and apron for maximum stability.

· Superior tournament-quality table top surfaces: resin board and fiber board.

· Ball bearing caster wheels with locking brakes.

· Easy and secure fold-up and locking mechanism storage.

· Self-opening wheels for easy set-up.

· Quick overall assembly.

· Nets and posts included with ball storage.

· Price range: $500 to $1200.

Another great option to consider if you’re seeking to buy a table tennis table, is not the table at all; it’s a conversion top. It could very well be that you just don’t have the room or money to buy a ping pong table just yet, but already have a playing surface, such as a pool table in your family room or on the patio; and want to play. This is where a conversion top can make life a lot more easy, affordable, and convenient for you. We recommend looking for either Detroiter or Stiga conversion tops as they are constructed with the utmost of quality table top materials, are between ½ inch to ¾ inch in width, and offer protective features such as: rubber safety pads, sponge rubber stripping, and wood railings for the playing surface you already have in place. These conversion tops are typically in the $300 range, and can be a quality consolation when a table just won’t work.



Elizabeth

Rick Grantham asked:


In any sport, there are always players that never fail to shine. They have been able to be role models to athletes all over the world, and have achieved great feats in their respective sports. For any aspiring athlete, looking at the careers of these great players truly serve inspirational. They even would help getting kids off the street because of the sheer greatness they exude. Whether they encourage people to engage in sports consciously or unconsciously,

Bo Jackson

He is arguably the best athlete ever. One of the greatest things ever achieved in sports was for him to play in two different sports and actually do well in them. He was named an all-star in both the NFL and Major League Baseball. It’s hard enough to shine and be an all-star in one sport, what more in two?

Dan Marino

When mentioning the NFL or American football in general, it is hard not to think about the name Dan Marino. Although he never won a Super Bowl for the Miami Dolphins, he is regarded to be one of the greatest quarter backs in the history of the NFL. He held numerous records (some of which are already broken) such as most yards passing, most seasons, 40 or more touchdown passes, most seasons leading the league in completions, and the list goes on and on.

Muhammad Ali

“Floats like a butterfly stings like a bee” is one of the most famous quotes made by an athlete and this athlete is no other than Cassius Clay, more popularly known as Muhammad Ali. Some people argue that he may have been the greatest athlete to ever walk the earth. While that is debatable, it is no question that he is one of the greatest. His speed combined with power overwhelmed his opponents in boxing, but one of his best weapons was his ability to intimidate. People would usually see him very arrogant before a match, and he would start bashing his opponents with his words. This doesn’t mean that he was overconfident, but this was his way of getting into the mind of his opponent. This is a tactic that is employed by a lot of great athletes, but it is hard to pull of for the ones that cannot back it up.

Michael Jordan

In basketball, he was given a lot of nicknames such as “his airness”, “superman” and the one that probably fits him best, “the greatest”. Although he is now regarded to be the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball, it wasn’t always the though in the minds of people. He was cut from his high school team, and he was only 3rd overall when he was drafted in the NBA. He wasn’t always the best in basketball, but his competitiveness and his drive to win were the crucial factors that got him to where he is today. Whether there is a player that will be able to surpass the feats and achievement of his airness is yet to be seen, and probably something that won’t happen too soon.



Justin

Massimo Martinini asked:


Good Morning, Afternoon and Evening and welcome yet again to another fun packed edition of Hazed & Confused. Since the last article the Indy scene seems to be in full swing, with quite a few events held over the past few weeks and future events being booked.

CZW recently held their tenth anniversary show in The Arena, Philadelphia.

Quick results from the event are as follows:

1. Drew Gulak defeated Little Mondo

2. Sami Callihan defeated Jon Dahmer

3. Adam Cole and Tyler Veritas won the “Old vs. New” Tag Team Gauntlet

- The order of entrants, and order of elimination is as follows:

- The S.A.T. defeated L.J. Cruz and Izzy Kensington

- 2.0 defeated the S.A.T.

- Cole and Veritas defeated 2.0

- Cole and Veritas defeated A.M.I.L.

- Cole and Veritas defeated GNC (Gacy and Colon)

4. Sabian defeated Ego Fantastico

5. Drew Blood defeated Pinkie Sanchez

6. The Best Around and El Sexisto defeated 2 Girls 1 Cup and Lord Everett Devore

7. Devon Moore defeated Ruckus

8. Ryan McBride defeated Carter Gray to retain the Jr. Heavyweight Title

9. The H8 Club defeated Brain Damage and Deranged in a Fans Bring The Weapons Match

After seeing this on DVD, it had to be one of the most brutal matches in CZW’s history.

The H8 Club took advantage early, using, believe it or not, a machete to carve and gouge at the eye of Deranged, rendering him useless, and allowing them to gain a virtual 2-on-1 on Brain Damage.

The H8 Club finished Brain Damage with a huge Superplex off the top through a barbed wire laden door, propped on chairs.

What happened next was to the surprise of everyone in the Arena…

10. Sami Callihan defeated Brain Damage to become the NEW CZW Iron Man Champion

Callihan stormed the ring with Referee Nick Pappagiorgio wrapped up in a blanket over his shoulder, and shoveled the unwilling official into the ring.

With the threat of a chair and further aggression, Pappagiorgio sanctioned an immediate match up, where Callihan picked up the H8 Club’s scraps, added a few more unneeded blows, and pinned an already beaten Brain Damage to win the Iron Man Championship.

11. Drake Younger defeated Eddie Kingston in a No Rope Barbed Wire Match to retain the CZW World Heavyweight Championship

Also, for those who have been following my articles, you will know that I keep mentioning the Chikara run tournament, King Of Trio’s coming up at the end of March, well all 16 teams have now been announced and are as follows:

1. The Masters of a Thousand Holds (Mike Quackenbush, Jorge “Skayde” Rivera & Johnny Saint)

2. The Osirian Portal (Ophidian, Amasis & Escorpion Egipcio)

3. Incoherence (Hallowicked, Delirious & Frightmare)

4. Team PWG (El Generico, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)

5. The Future Is Now (Lince Dorado, Helios & Jimmy “Equinox” Olsen)

6. The Death Match Kings (Necro Butcher, Toby Klein & Brain Damage)

7. The F1RST Family (Arik Cannon, Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz)

8. Da Soul Touchaz (Willie Richardson, Trauma & Marshe Rockett)

9. Team CZW (Beef Wellington, Pinkie Sanchez & Greg Excellent)

10. The Cold Front (Al Snow, Iceberg & Glacier)

11. F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma, Chuck Taylor & Icarus)

12. The Roughnecks (Brodie Lee, Eddie Kingston & Grizzly Redwood)

13. Team Uppercut (Claudio Castagnoli, Dave Taylor & Bryan Danielson)

14. Team EPIC WAR (Austin Aries, Tony Kozina & Ryan Drago)

15. The UnStable (Vin Gerard, STIGMA & Colin Delaney)

16. Team DDT (Kota Ibushi, KUDO & Michael Nakazawa)

Quite an impressive collection of teams there and pretty hard for me to pick a favorite to win the tournament, with most of the teams having a very good chance at doing so. Though I imagine I’m not the only one hoping to see a “HEAD” Shot in the tournament.

So anyway, I decided to do something different and special from the other articles here at TWG and after some thinking I decided that it would be great to actually interview an Indy wrestler.

So with nothing to lose, I sent an email out to my personal favorite Indy wrestler, Mike Quackenbush, and much to my surprise he agreed to answer a few questions for me and some suggested by other people at TWG.

Due to his work and schedule however, the answers are fairly short but I hope you will agree with me that Quackenbush doing this interview for me is nothing short of awesomeness.

So without further delay, an interview with Quack…

Thank you Mike for joining me on Hazed & Confused, hopefully you’re the first of many exclusive interviews.

Most of my readers will know you mainly from Chikara and some as the current NWA Junior Champion.

I have asked some of the games members to think of questions to ask you, and we have quite a mixed bunch..

We’ll start off with some wrestling based ones and finish off with some random questions…

So without further delay on with the questions…

1) Did you have any major setbacks starting in the business?

–The fact that I wasn’t properly trained when I had my earliest matches was a huge setback. I was never going to be taken seriously or get a chance to work in a real company until I got some legitimate training.

2) What has been your personal favorite match so far?

—I am very fond of my match with Claudio Castagnoli from the 2006 edition of the Ted Petty Invitational.

3) Who have you had the most fun wrestling against and teaming with?

—Claudio brings out the best in me. I enjoy teaming with Jigsaw, or any of my trainees, really.

4) Have you ever been “star-struck” when meeting other wrestlers around the world?

—I was a little bit when I wrestled El Hijo del Santo. He has a magical presence about him.

5) How do you feel on the way CHIKARA is going?

—I think we are doing a great job of altering the accepted status quo in the wrestling business, and we’re doing it very quietly, but effectively.

6) With the upcoming King Of Trios, which team would you like to compete against more?

—I’d very much like to lock horns with the PWG or DDT teams.

7) If WWE offered you a contract, but it meant giving up working at CHIKARA, would you take it?

—I wouldn’t accept a WWE contract no matter what it said or stipulated. Even if Vince McMahon came over and agreed to wash my car and gave me the original Max Moon costume, I wouldn’t sign.

Who are your main “travel buddies” when going to different shows?

—Because most of my non-CHIKARA engagements involve flying rather than driving, I tend to travel by myself. It’s pretty rare that I road trip by car these days.

9) Have you ever gotten “stage fright” before a match, and how did you overcome this?

—I used to get that quite a bit. Just butterflies in the stomach, so to speak. But I probably haven’t experienced that in ten years or so. No one makes me more nervous to wrestle than Jorge Rivera, though. The odds of being able to go hold-for-hold with him are just about zero.

10) Do you ever see ******** fights coming into CHIKARA?

—Maybe a satire of the cliches of garbage wrestling, but that’s probably about it.

11) How do you feel on Ring Of Honor and their recent TV deal?

—It’s too soon to know how it will affect them. In two or three months, we might better understand what will come of it.

12) Who, out of your current students, could be the next star?

—Any and all of them, really. Each has their own unique potential.

13) If you could have one match against any wrestler, dead or alive, that you haven’t fought before, who would it be?

—I think I get asked this in every interview I’ve ever done, and I like to change up the answer. So let’s say Owen Hart this week.

14) Finally, what advice would you have for anyone looking to get into wrestling?

—Get trained by someone reputable, with good international contacts, unless you want to languish in obscurity for years and years. That’s what happened to me.

And now for some less serious questions asked….

15) Do you fear Chuck Norris?

—Of course.

16) Burger King or McDonald’s?

—McDonald’s. Not even close. BK is for jabrones.

17) Favorite band and/or song?

—I’m a big They Might Be Giants fan. Probably have more TMBG Cd’s than any other in my collection.

18) If you were President, how would you deal with the current economy crisis?

—I have never felt so ill-equipped to answer a question. Pass?

19) Have you heard about the bird?

—I have heard that the bird is the word.

20) Favorite Video Game?

—I love playing the Fire Pro series, and on my PC, I used to be addicted to a game called Freedom Force, a few years back.

21) Have you ever worn a Tutu?

—I am fairly certain I have not.

22) Favorite all time movie?

—That’s tough. I’m a big fan of just about all superhero movies, going back to the 1978 Christopher Reeve Superman film. I’ve probably watched “Glengarry Glen Ross” more times than any other movie. Maybe “UHF.”

23) Favorite TV show?

—I never miss an episode of “Lost.” I also really enjoy “The X-Files” and “Fawlty Towers.”

Well thank you very much Mike for your time, we here at TWG very much appreciate you doing this interview with us today. All the best to you this coming year with Chikara and with other matches you may have around the world.

Now just how great was that? But thats not all my readers, no, Ive been a busy bee and have secured another FOUR Indy Wrestlers for interviews. So in the coming weeks I shall be bringing you interviews with:

Shimmer & NWA Womens Champion, Ms Chif

CZW wrestler, and part of my last article, SeXXXy Eddy

CZW wrestler and BLK Out member, Sabian

Chikara wrestler and member of “Super Smash Brothers”, Stupefied / Player Dos

Though by the time you read this, the Ms Chif interview should be already done, but if anyone has ANY questions at all for the others, please leave a comment below and I shall do my best to ask them your question when the interview is done. I would like to thank you all for reading this week, my apologies for the delay in articles but I hope that the interviews more than make up for it.

Until next time…. this has been Hazed & Confused.



Carrie

Johnson McBrady asked:


Shimano Jigging System: Jigging System by Shimano that Gives a New Fishing Experience

Before, you have a very tough day trying to lure at least one fish with little or no success. Sometimes, you get frustrated with the fishing experience as you end the day. You may also be fearful of luring big fishes that may put you off balance and loose your grip. If all these sound familiar to you, the only way to get rid of these is to learn from your mistakes. One probable mistake that you have probably had is using the wrong gears and equipment for fishing.

In jigging, it is important you get the right jig, suitable rod, and matching reels. If you ever need accessories, it must also match with the type of jigging you’ll take. For Shimano, these have been met accordingly.

Understand the Shimano Jigging System

The Shimano jigging system does not only have different shapes and forms of jigs. It does not also consist of different types of jigs: feathered jigs, nylon jigs, mylar jigs and bucktail jigs. When we look at the jigging system by Shimano, you’ll notice that it is all about the overall equipment and gear for a real Shimano jigging experience.

Here is what you get with Shimano jigging system:

? Shimano Rods. The fishing rods will match what the Shimano jigging needs. The Butterfly Shimano Jigging System, one of the two jigging system by Shimano, includes the Shimano Trevala rod. This is suitable for a jigging experience for a maximum of 500 feet depth. Because it has this condition in mind, the Trevala rod in the system is durable, lightweight, and sensitive. Whenever there is a bite, anglers can readily respond with this strong rod. Likewise, the Tescata Shimano rod is included in the Lucanus Shimano Jigging system. The Tescata is a suitable rod for Shimano jigging for bottom fishes with its soft and flexible tip.

? Shimano Reels. The Shimano jigging system also includes Shimano reels. For the Butterfly system, the Shimano reel could be the Stella, Trinidad, or Torsa series. This is a generation of high speed, high powered, and super lines for the Shimano jigging experience. This is carefully matched with the jig used. For the Lucanus system, it includes the customized Calcutta CTE series. This reel is suitable for bottom catches for bigger fish, quicker response time, and faster retrieval.

? Shimano accessories. For Shimano jigging requiring more accessories such as stinger hooks or solid ring, the Shimano jigging system provides it all.

Indeed, with the combination of the products in one system, anglers can be assured that catching fish can be fun, easy and productive at the same time. There is no need to worry about the possible failure and waste of time in angling. With the Shimano jigging system, the angler is brought up to a new level of Shimano jigging experience.

Shimano jigging system, which includes the Shimano Butterfly System and Shimano Lucanus System, can be found in Sea Isle Tackle. This is an online store that provides the needed system for a better jigging experience.



Joy