Shooting

Right: Gordon Hayward, a 6-foot-8 sophomore swingman, leads the Bulldogs in scoring and rebounding. (AP Photo)

The 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Indianapolis to take on No. 22 Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:03 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised on ESPN with Sean McDonough and Jay Bilas.

As always, you can hear the game all across the state on the 60-station Ohio State Buckeyes Radio Network with “Big Daddy” Paul Keels and former Buckeye Ron Stokes. WBNS outlets 97.1 FM and 1460 AM are the flagship stations in Columbus.

Ohio State, though, will be without arguably the nation’s best player as Evan Turner is out for at least seven more weeks with a transverse process fracture on the second and third lumbar vertebra of his spine. He suffered the injury on a dunk attempt last Saturday against Eastern Michigan.

No word on who will replace Turner in the starting lineup, but my best guess is it will be point guard P.J. Hill with Jeremie Simmons coming off the bench.

Yes, it’s going to be hard to fill Turner’s shoes in terms of scoring, since he was averaging 20.6 points per game before his injury. The biggest question is, who will take up the slack in rebounding? Who will replace the 12.9 rebounds per game?

Ohio State head coach Thad Matta has always like playing just one post player, but as former high school coach I am going to have to assume that he’s going to have to go with a bigger lineup, which means 6-foot-8 Dallas Lauderdale and 6-foot-9 Kyle Madsen will be on the floor at the same time. It also should mean that Zisis Sarikopoulos gets some playing time, too.

The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s game with a record of 6-3. All three of Butler’s losses have come against ranked teams: No. 22 Minnesota (82-73), No. 19 Clemson (70-69), and No. 15 Georgetown (72-69). The six wins have come against Davidson (73-62), Northwestern (67-54) , Evansville (64-60), UCLA (69-67), Ball State (59-38) and Valparaiso (84-67).

Butler’s top player is 6-foot-8 sophomore swingman Gordon Hayward, who is averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and both stats top the Bulldogs’ roster. 6-foot-3 guard Shelvin Mack is second in scoring averaging 14.8 points per contest.

Probable Starters
No. 22 Butler Bulldogs (6-3, 1-0 Horizon)	No. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

10. O.J. Mayo - Mayo had a nice rookie season for the Grizzlies, and big things are expected of him by a franchise that has a lot of young talent.

I think Mayo would have benefited greatly had Memphis been able to bring in a veteran during the off-season that could provide stable leadership. But apparently the Grizzlies management doesn't follow the NBA, because instead they brought in Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson to ensure that their young players had some fabulous role models.

Either way, Mayo has a lot of areas that need work, but he is already a very good scorer and the rest of his game should come around with time.

9. Ray Allen - There's not a smoother stroke in the history of the league. Obviously Ray Ray's best days are behind him, but he is still a major weapon for a Celtics team that relies on its experienced veterans.

Allen may have lost a stop or two and you won't see him dunking over anybody anymore, but I have never seen any player with as quick of a release on their shot as his.

This is the reason he is still so dangerous; not only is he dead-on accurate, but he can get his shot off no matter how good the defense is. He is also pretty darn good in the clutch.

8. Kevin Martin - Martin is a lot like Ben Gordon in the fact that he doesn't do much besides score. But unlike Gordon, Martin is a tall and lanky guard that I feel has the tools to be a much better all-around player than he is.

Who knows, maybe he won't ever learn to play defense or pass the basketball, but Martin will always be one of the best scorers in the league. He can light it up from anywhere on the court, and he gets to the line as well as anybody. Only time will tell if Martin is able to eventually polish his all-around game enough to be top-5 material.

7. Vince Carter - He doesn't look anything like the Vince Carter that came into the league 10 years ago. I guess that's what age and knee-surgeries will do to you.

Back in the day, Carter was a guarantee to make Sportscenter Top 10 plays every time he set foot on the floor. It seems like ages ago that Vinsanity was jumping directly over seven-footers in the Olympics. To his credit he has been able to adapt his game nicely since his freakish athleticism left him.

He is now mostly a perimeter player, taking an average of over six three-pointers a game, but has become a very good shooter and should be the perfect compliment to Superman in Orlando.

It's still hard to watch him play now, though, because all I think about was watching the 2000 Dunk Contest and being absolutely blown away by what Carter was doing. Although he's only sixth on my list here, he does make No. 1 on my list of best dunkers of all-time. Sorry, M.J., you can't win everything.

6. Andre Iguodala - It doesn't seem right to me that Iguodala is this high on the list, but it really only happens by default because there's not a lot of great two-guards in the league.

No disrespect meant, because Andre is very good. He's really become a good all-around player since coming into the league. He has developed a decent outside shot to compliment his slashing ability, and he plays the passing lanes on defense about as well as anyone.

5. Manu Ginobili - Ginobili! It's too bad that Manu gets hurt so often because he's a lot of fun to watch when he's healthy. He's a lot more athletic than he looks, he's a good shooter, and he plays solid defense. He's also apparently quite handy when bats happen to fly onto the court.

4. Joe Johnson - One of my favorite players in the league. I love watching Joe Johnson play and he never gets the credit that he deserves. There's nothing that he doesn't do well, and he just goes about his business quietly and lets his game speak for itself.

He has the ability to be a playmaker for his teammates as well as get his own shot whenever he wants. Players like that are rare in today's NBA. Johnson is an MVP candidate this year if Atlanta keeps up its winning ways.

3. Brandon Roy - I don't think that most NBA fans and media around the country actually realize how good Roy is. I think you really have to watch him consistently in order to appreciate his game, because he doesn't play in a way that really stands out.

During Portland's playoff series with Houston last year, some Rockets fans and bloggers were saying that Roy was better than Dwayne Wade, and Ron Artest called him the best player he'd ever guarded.

Now I wouldn't go quite that far, and nothing Artest says should really be taken seriously, but I believe it still goes to show that Roy is even better than he gets credit for around the league.

The last thing he needs to do to completely polish his game is improve defensively; other than that there's not a thing he doesn't do well. He also happens to be one of the best clutch players in the game.

2. Dwayne Wade - Whenever I watch Wade I always wonder how long he can continue to play the way he does. The guy goes to the hoop with reckless abandon and with no regard for his body.

His style of play gets him massive amounts of free throws; this year he's averaging over 12 attempts per game, which is straight ridiculous.

While Wade can make you go "oooh" and "ahhh", I can't stand watching Miami play because it is just Wade going one-on-one pretty much every possession. I understand he doesn't have much help around him, but that's not how basketball was meant to be played.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Wade, it's not really his fault. It's really a problem with the whole league, but that's another discussion. It will be interesting to see what Wade does this summer as a free agent, because he could make most teams an instant contender.

1. Kobe Bryant - The Black Mamba is adjusting his game to account for his diminishing athleticism, much like M.J. did in his later years.

Kobe worked hard with Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon in the offseason to improve his post-up game, resulting in much less perimeter play and lots of points in the paint.

It will be interesting to see how his groin injury holds up throughout the season. When healthy, Kobe is still the most dangerous player in the NBA and one of the greatest clutch performers of all-time.

Yes, there is scientific data that proves the Wizards will be a better team with Caron Butler taking more shots than Gilbert Arenas. The Truth will indeed set the Wizards' offense free.

Considering I’m much more of a writer than a statistician, my take is based more on the poetics of the matter rather than the probable outcomes presented in the numbers. First, Arenas was far happier and bolder taking shots in the free-wheeling Eddie Jordan offense. He had the money, the scoring output, and the game-winning DAGGERS to justify free-falling into a 6-22 night on any given night.

Butler, with his size and skill from mid-range, has much more opportunity to hold opponents at his mercy. He’s strong enough to handle guards and quick enough off the dribble to make most small forwards work hard defensively (which, Butler says, very few enjoy doing).

Arenas is a better shooter and playmaker than Butler, but he doesn’t open the floor up for Butler. Because most guards would prefer to sag off Agent Zero on a cold shooting night, the three-point line is ripe for Butler even if his drives to the hoop are taken away.

Conversely, most teams would have to respect Butler in the post because he has a good repertoire with his back to the basket. A spacing game between Arenas and Butler opens up the opportunity to drive to the hoop, or get a poorly-contested jump shot. The same goes for Antawn Jamison on the opposite side of the floor.

The Wizards have always been a dangerous team, just not a smart one. Between the maturation of Arenas and the organization of Flip Saunders, it may be enough to seriously contend in the Eastern Conference.

Technorati Tags: Caron Butler, Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards

Over 300 youth from across the nation gathered in Colorado Springs from Apr. 4-19 to compete in the 2009 Rifle and Pistol National Junior Olympic Shooting Championship. In order to win an invitation to the competition, these youth had to win their State Junior Olympic Championship or shoot above a set score.

Champions include the following in their respective categories:

Emily Quiner in the 10 meter women's rifle

Sandra Fong in the 50 meter women's three-position rifle

Ethan Settlemires in the 10 meter men's rifle

Samuel Muegge in the 50 meter men's prone rifle

Dempster Christenson in the 50 meter men's three-position rifle

Will Brown in the 10 meter men's pistol

Kylie Gagnon in the 10 meter women's pistol

Courtney Anthony in the 25 meter women's sport pistol

Will Brown in the 50 meter men's free pistol

The competition was held at the U.S. Olympic Shooting Center where full-time resident athletes live and train for the Olympic games. The Shooting Center is the largest indoor shooting facility in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world. Outdoor ranges are also utilized at the nearby International Shooting Park.

The USA Shooting mission statement is to “Prepare American athletes to win Olympic medals, promote the shooting sports throughout the U.S., and govern the conduct of international shooting in the country.”

The organization was created in 1995 after the National Governing Body for Shooting established national teams and national development teams, a national coaching staff, year-round training staff, and a training site for Olympic shooting sports. Prior to this, athletes trained independently and met annually to try out for major events.

America's future Olympic athletes have taken a step forward into the crucible of competition. These athletes continue to forge the proud and highly decorated legacy of the American shooting community. They represent the 20 million Americans who participate in target shooting sports each year.

Author's note: Here's another installment in the "Offbeat Sports" series—that interesting collection of lesser known competitive events you won't read about or watch in the mainstream media outlets. This time, Action Pistol...

"...Pulse noticeably increasing now, his steely eyes scan the area to the left and to the right. He locks onto the position of the perceived threats, instantly judging distance and size.  Instinctively he reaches for his holstered Glock while simultaneously determining which bad guy gets the first bullet.

Six rounds are fired. Six figures fall. Off in the distance, to the right, another threat looms. He releases an empty magazine as he scrambles to the cover of a well-placed oil drum. Slamming a fresh clip into the hungry Glock, he quickly dispatches the gang of heartless impostors. Threat ended..."

A scene from the latest cop thriller?  Naw. Just another go-around at the range in the fun and competitive sport called Action Pistol.

Action Pistol is an NRA sanctioned event which stresses the importance of accuracy, speed and safety. As the name implies, it requires movement on the part of the shooter through a particular course of fire. Under NRA rules, there are over a dozen different courses of fire.

The shooter, using a real, live pistol (autoloader or revolver) moves from station to station, engaging targets of varying size and shape, negotiating the course as swiftly and as accurately as possible.

Props such as cars, buildings and fences serve as cover or barriers in the various courses. The competitor may be required to shoot from standing, kneeling or prone positions. A course of fire always begins with a holstered gun and includes at least one re-load of ammunition.

The accepted minimum caliber in Action Pistol is 9mm although some special rimfire classifications use a .22 caliber projectile. In the more advanced and professional competitions, shooters often load their own "special recipe" ammo which can be more accurate than the commercial product. 

Not just any "loose cannon" is able to find his way onto a sanctioned Action Pistol course. Getting started requires the shooter to pass a prescribed course of fire,  demonstrating a thorough knowledge of safety disciplines such as keeping the trigger finger off the trigger until ready to fire and keeping the gun pointed downrange at all times when unholstered.

Competition in Action Pistol is enjoyed at every level from beginner to professional. No gender gap exists as women have well demonstrated their competence in the sport. Most local ranges have an Action Pistol club which is where virtually all competitors get their start. At the top levels, prize money runs in the $6000 to $7000 range—which is barely enough to cover travel expenses, let alone ammunition and gun tuning/repair. Still, the family atmosphere and competitive camaraderie surrounding the sport is the real draw.

Action Pistol  is a physical stress-reducer combining movement, coordination and reflex with the fantasy "cops and robbers" games of our childhood. It provides an arena of competition where one can hone his marksmanship skills in an environment of fun and safety. That is, until those "heartless impostors" begin to fire back.

watch video clip:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guKd1lWokCQ

photo:  www.davesevignyperformance.com

The Olympics is the biggest and best sporting event in the world. It has showcased, and continues to showcase, a range of events. In this article I will countdown some of the weirdest events that have ever graced the Olympic Games.

5. 3000m Steeplechase (1896 - present)

To me, this event just looks random. It seems that someone was short of Olympic events so took the 3,000 metres and threw a hurdle every 200m or so! To add to that, they put water behind one of the barriers!

I wonder if anyone grows up and says "I want to be a 3000m steeplechaser when I'm older." Somehow I doubt it. What was wrong with the normal 3000m?

4. Motor Boating (1908)

Unsurprisingly this event didn't make it past one Olympic appearance. London were the hosts for this shambles of an event, where people simply raced a motor boat against others. No athletic ability was needed.

While you may not think this sounds too bad, remember, this was in 1908, when they thought going too fast would cause your head to explode. The boats therefore never got over 20 mph.

3. Horse Long Jump (1900)

Again, this unsurprisingly only appeared at one Olympics. The concept was simply human long jump, but instead of the human part, you have horses.

I'm guessing a few of them struggled on the landing technique, and maybe got a few foot fouls. Or hoof fouls, as they case may be.

The poor horses didn't even get to go onto the podium and collect their medals!

2. Horse High Jump (1900)

Another product of the genius mind who decided to get horses to do what humans did. I don't know why he didn't choose a horse 100m, it would've been better. Still, a horse high jump competition outdoes even the horse long jump.

Again, though, the horse who could jump highest didn't even get to collect its medal. I wonder how they did qualifying for this?

1. Solo Synchronized Swimming (1992)

Yes, you read that right. The 1992 Olympic games saw Solo Synchronized Swimming as an actual registered event. Nobody seemed to tell the inventor of this that you need two people to be in sync.

Apparently the idea was that the swimmer was in sync with the music. Sorry, but solo synchronized swimming is not only the weirdest Olympic event of all time, it is the stupidest as well. By far.

Honourable mentions:

Walking

Rope Climb

Live Pigeon Shooting

Pistol Dueling

Tug of War

We certainly have seen our fair share of weird and wonderful Olympic events. Please feel free to share any other weird events I may have missed!

*One more event has just come to my attention that just has to be mentioned. In 1900 there was a Poodle Clipping event!*

The most populous country in the entire world for the first time will be hosting the 29th Summer Olympics.

So many topics about the Olympics can range from the issues that people have with China regarding human rights to the venues and events that NBC deem for the US population to watch.

Granted that if you have CNBC, MSNBC, Universal HD, USA, Oxygen, and Telemundo you can watch Olympic coverage nearly 24 hours a day.

I'm starting these series of pieces to address the less known events and stories behind either athletes that don't roll off our tongues or non-American athletes.

The first piece that I want to address is the often used phrase, the Olympic courage.

Many think that this refers to the superstar athletes looking to further increase their personal medal count or professional athletes that get paid to play the games they play in the Olympics.  It doesn't.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy seeing the United States win medals and athletes represent this great nation with dignity and respect.  But I'm not uber excited to see this so-called perfect men's basketball team try to "redeem" themselves by winning gold. 

When I think about the Olympic spirit, never have I thought about Kobe and LeBron, I'm more likely to think about an athlete from a third-world nation that may be one of only a few athletes representing his/her entire nation.

If you were to poll all the 13,000+ athletes in this year's Olympics, I would guarentee that over 75% of them are not looking to win a medal, but to break their personal best, compete in front of the entire world, and represent their home nation.  However, everyone of them will dream it, that's the dream that the Olympics bring to thousands of athletes and millions around the world.

Medals are good, I'm cheering for Michael Phelps to win his 8 gold medals, it will be a fascinating story, but the true meaning of the Olympic spirit is an unknown athlete giving everything he/she has to better him/herself in front of thousands there and millions around the world.

One of these highlights that is not likely to see any broadcast time of make it onto ESPN's Sportscenter would be the Women's 10m Air Rifle.  Unless you saw the quick highlight by NBC, read about it, or actually watched this event, I bet you didn't know that Katerina Emmons (pictured above) of the Czech Republic not only won the first gold medal of the Olympic Games, but set a new world record.

Most of us would not pay any attention to events like these, either because the US media has not mentioned it or their was no American's in the event.  But don't tell that to American Jamie Beyerle who finish fourth, just outside the medal stand.

Katerina Emmons will never make millions of dollars doing what she does, she will probably never be on a Wheaties box or have a shoe deal with Nike, but she improved on her 2004 Athens bronze medal, she made her nation, her hometown of Plzen, and her husband Matthew Emmons, a member of the US Shooting Team, very proud.  And that's the true menaing of the Olympic spirit.