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2011-09-22T11:06:00.000-04:00

Amy Rodriguez

2011-07-12T16:34:00.006-04:00

A Puma sponsored athlete

Amy Rodriguez might tell you she “fell” into soccer…but if you know anything about this star Philadelphia Independence forward, it’s just her being humble. Amy has an Olympic medal under her belt and was the #1 draft pick in the Women’s Professional Soccer league. Next up: The world games in Germany. We checked in with the superstar player to chat about the greatest achievement of her professional career so far.

Takkle: What attracted you to the life of a professional soccer player?

Amy Rodriguez: I guess I eventually fell into it. I’ve been a soccer player since I was five or six. I really enjoyed the game when I was playing it. I was able to get a college scholarship out of it, and that led me to playing with our national team. And then after I graduated college, I got drafted to go play in the professional league, so this whole window of opportunity opened up for me.

Takkle: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time?

AR: I really like Michael Jordan – we have the same birthday. But as an athlete, he’s very inspiring.

Takkle: What did it feel like when you heard you were the #1 draft pick during the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer Draft?

AR: It was kind of surreal because I never thought that any of this was going to happen. When I got my college scholarship, my parents were so excited and happy for me. Then I was selected to go to the Olympics in Beijing. And again, I just felt very fortunate. I always felt like I was in the right place at the right time with the right coaches and the right people.

Takkle: You share your nickname with the Yankees’ A-Rod….

AR: I actually like it because Andy Roddick is another A-Rod I look up to. So, I think the three of us share a pretty cool name and it’s all fun because we play three different sports.

Takkle: How do you personally get over the disappointment of a loss?

AR: That’s really hard and sometimes it takes longer than others. I think whenever you make a mistake in a soccer game or at practice, you just have to get yourself to move on and being a great athlete is not about sulking in the low moments. I think it takes the ability and the drive to get yourself back on top. So, I always focus on the next player, the next game, or the next tournament and try to work on the things that I need to improve on to play better.

Takkle: You’re known to be a bit of a girly-girl off the field. Is that something you need to change when you’re out there on the field playing or do you feel like it’s part of your overall style?

AR: I think you can be a girly-girl on and off the field. I’m proud to be a women’s soccer player and I’m proud to be feminine and enjoy that. But at the same time, being girly doesn’t take anything away from your athletic ability – or it shouldn’t. I bring a lot to the field everyday – hard work and intensity. That doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna be girly or anything like that.

Takkle: What’s one of the most difficult things about being on the road for games?

AR: When you’re on the road, it’s tough because you’re trying to do the right things that get your body ready for a big match or a big competition. A lot of times it’s finding the right meals, sleeping in your own bed, and those sort of things kind of get thrown off when you’re not at home or you’re not in a familiar place. But I’ve learned to adjust. I’ve played so many games on the road now that my ability to adjust has really been a big factor in me performing well despite having the comfort of being home.

Takkle: What are your favorite TV shows to watch when you have down time?

AR: It’s funny because during the World Cup years, we really have no time to do anything. All the TV shows are Tivo’d. It’s hard to keep up, but recently I’ve been on a reality show kick with shows like American Idol, The Voice, The Real Housewives or Bethenny Ever After.

Takkle: Looking back, what advice would you give yourself as a teenage athlete?

AR: My sister is sixteen, so it’s almost like I’m giving her advice. It’s tough because at that age there are so many different things going on, like school, sports, and your social life. I think you have to learn to prioritize what’s important to you. My family used to always tell me that God and faith are number one, two are family, three is school, four was soccer, and then five was friends. So, prioritize your life and make sure that you’re taking care of the areas that mean the most to you.

Takkle: Have you ever struggled with something in soccer throughout your career?

AR: Yeah, definitely. I think my first year in the pro league I didn’t perform very well. I had a lot of pressure from my coaches and teammates and that was very difficult for me. It was very hard and so I had to learn to overcome that and I had to learn to overcome a lack of confidence. I think when you’re not confident, it’s really hard to play and I had to get through that and it was very tough, but I did it.

Takkle: Do you have a pick-me-up or a confidence mantra?

AR: I guess for myself I’m like, “Get the next one. Go for the next play. Get the next pass.” You can always look forward to the future.

To see Amy in action on the road to Germany, head to teen.com/mydaymylife and check out the soccer star and her fellow players as they prepare for the biggest games of their lives!

TUNE IN AND WATCH THE 2011 GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS LIVE!

2011-07-11T10:07:00.001-04:00

Gatorade will present the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards to the nation’s best overall male and female high school athletes on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa. Emceed by ESPN’s Stuart Scott, the awards will be presented by Matthew Stafford, Lisa Leslie, Kevin Love and Jessica Mendoza. All twelve 2010-11 Gatorade National Players of the Year are nominees for this award.

Fans can tune in to watch the live stream of the awards dinner at http://www.ustream.tv/gstream from 5:30-7:30 PM PST. And from 7:30-9:30 PM PST, fans may stay on the USTREAM channel to ask questions live to all presenting professional athletes and the 12 Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees.

One on One with Six Time Olympic Medalist Ryan Lochte

2011-06-16T12:46:00.002-04:00

In part two of this interview with six time Olympic medalist, Ryan Lochte. We dive right in to the GSSI testing. Ryan also provides excellent insight for high school athletes looking to take it to the next level.

Here are a couple of additional tests Ryan went through, that went above and beyond what I was tested on back in February.

Lactate Threshold: Lactic acid is a by-product of anaerobic metabolism (as a result of high-intensity exercise), and high levels are thought to lead to fatigue. Knowing an athlete’s lactate threshold (the point at which lactate is produced faster than it is cleared) can help identify training “zones.” Additionally, the better trained the athlete the higher intensity he/she should be able to train at before reaching lactate threshold.

Ryan swam four 400m at progressively faster paces. A blood sample (finger prick) was collected after each 400.

Sport & Physiological Demands: Allows scientists to determine exercise intensity during Ryan's practice – coupling this data with the results of the Substrate Utilization testing will allow the scientists to extrapolate where his energy is coming from during training (i.e. carbohydrate stores vs. fat stores) as well as estimate his energy (caloric) expenditure.

Ryan wore a GPS device in the pool – the scientist will be able to chart graphs from that data after the test

Substrate (fuel) Utilization: This test is used to determine energy (caloric) expenditure, as well as determine the amount of energy used from carbohydrate fuel and fat fuel. Using the information collected from the “Sport Demands” testing we can estimate caloric expenditure and the source of the fuel during Ryan’s training in the pool.

Ryan performed thirty (30) minutes of sub-maximal, intermittent exercise on a cycle ergometer (essentially, an exercise bike). During this time, Ryan breathed continuously into a mask used to collect his expired air.

For the full interview you can see it after the jump.

Takkle: What was your favorite test with GSSI? What was your least Favorite?

Ryan Lochte: Honestly, I think the hardest one for me was that mile run, I'm an in the water kind of athlete. But I really liked all of the tests.

Takkle: Have you been part of any of the testing similar to what you took part in today? Or was this your first go-round with this?

Ryan Lochte: This was my go-round.

Takkle: So what were your overall impressions of the test then?

Ryan Lochte: I didn't think it was that hard, I know how hard I train. And I wasn't expecting it to be that hard, but it was a good experience. They said I did okay.

Takkle: I'm sure you did better than okay, you're just being kind.

Takkle: How did you get into swimming competitively?

Ryan Lochte: My dad, he was a swim coach. You know how when you're a little kid, you always follow your dad around at work. Well I was always around the pool deck, and at the age of 8, I said you know what, let's just give it a try. So I jumped in and had a natural feel for the water and stuck with it.

Takkle: Michael Phelps' diet was a pretty big deal during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Is your diet anything close to that of Michael's when you're training and competing? They were saying he was consuming 10,000-12,000 calories a day.

RL: To consume that many calories a day is pretty much impossible. I try to eat roughly 6,000-8,000 calories. And that's pretty tough because I'm eating constantly.

Takkle: What typically goes in to a day of eating? Are you eating healthy? Or in those 6,000-8,000 calories are you eating junk food as well.

RL: Well I'm not the perfect eater, I'm always going to have those junk foods, but I try to stay away from them as much as possible.

Takkle: How close are you with the members of the US Swim team? It's got to be tough since you compete against each other in the individual races but also race together in the team events. How often do you hang out? How often do you train together?

RL: We don't, because we're all over the U.S. The only time we train together is about a week or two before our national meet. That's the only time we really practice together. As far as hanging out, one of my best friends is on the Olympic team with me, so we hang out a lot. Otherwise we'll hang out whenever we're at events together.

Takkle: Okay, good to know. I was curious how the swimming dynamic worked since you're not together. It's not necessarily like baseball or basketball when you're around your teammates for 6+ months a year.

Takkle: How did it feel to represent the U.S. in the Olympics in 2008, and what are you looking forward to the most in 2012?

RL: Any time that you can represent your country at the Olympics is a dream come true. It's the greatest feeling, because you're not just swimming for yourself, you're swimming for your whole country. You get that American flag on your cap; it's honestly the greatest feeling.

Takkle: I can't even imagine the feeling, hearing the national anthem on the podium must be an incredible experience.

RL: When it gets to that point, you start to think of all the obstacles you overcame to get there. It gets really sentimental.

Takkle: Can you talk about a couple of obstacles you've gone through in your career as a swimmer. I'm sure there are a lot of high school swimmers that have gone through similar obstacles and are looking to take it to the next level.

RL: Well when you're in high school, the most important thing was being popular and hanging out with your friends. That was definitely hard, because swimming definitely took a big part of my high school days. So I had to sacrifice some things, so instead of going to the movies with my buddies, I had to go to swim practice instead. It was really cool because a lot of my friends understood what I wanted to do and respected that, so that was a big help. There are other things, I always find myself getting injured. It's definitely one of the biggest obstacles I've had to overcome in my career.

Takkle: Thanks for that! I'm sure they'll appreciate the advice.

RL: When it gets to that point, you have to realize what your main goals are, and you can't let anything get in the way.

Takkle: What is your favorite event to swim?

RL: Probably the 200M individual medley. Because it's not as long as the rest of the events and you do one lap of each stroke.

Takkle: What do you like to do for fun?

RL: Anything to keep my mind of swimming. Whether that's basketball, surfing, beach volleyball, going to the Dog Park and hanging out with him.

Takkle: What advice would you give high school athletes looking to take it to the next level?

RL: You have to push your body to limits that you never knew your body could handle, and that's what's really going to help you succeed. And most importantly, just have fun.

Takkle: Good words to live by Ryan, thanks for taking the time out to talk with us and good luck in London in 2012!

Takkle jumps into the pool with Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte

2011-06-15T17:14:00.001-04:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with six-time Olympic medalist (three gold, two silver, one bronze), Ryan Lochte, and talk about his experience with the Gatorade Sports Sciene Institute (GSSI). Ryan went through the full gamut of tests at GSSI, that both myself, and select NFL prospects went through during Super Bowl week in Dallas.

Ryan had the added bonus of field testing by having his fuel/hydration needs measured during an actual pool workout. This allowed the GSSI scientists to further customize what Ryan needs as a swimmer. Like all elite athletes, Ryan is seeking ways to improve his performance.They will work with him to determine what adjustments he can make to his fueling and nutrition that can help give him a performance edge as he prepares for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Here are a few questions I had for Ryan about his testing experience with the GSSI.

Takkle: What was your biggest take-away from the GSSI testing that you think will help take your performance to the next level?

Ryan Lochte: Working with GSSI really helped me learn tweaks I can make regarding my nutrition and hydration that will help me gain a competitive edge as I prepare for the 2012 Olympics.

Takkle: Were there any misconceptions you had about nutrition that GSSI helped to break down through their analysis?

Ryan Lochte: I found the testing to be very beneficial. I learned a lot about the energy I exert and how what I put into my body at certain times can impact my performance.

Takkle: In what areas, if any, do you have the most room for improvement?

Ryan Lochte: I already felt that my nutrition habits were solid, but GSSI helped provide information that can help even more. Elite athletes are always looking for every advantage they can get – from training to equipment – and nutrition is certainly a way to gain an advantage in a sport where every millisecond counts.

Takkle: In a sport where you’re defined by a 100th’s of a second, do you think the GSSI has helped you gain a competitive advantage through their analysis?

Ryan Lochte: The toughest test I did was the Wingate test. I felt I did pretty well, but definitely gained some insight on things I can do to further boost my power output.

Stay tuned tomorrow for part two of my interview with Ryan!

Leslie Osborne: The Soccer Star Shares Five Tips for Going Pro

2011-05-26T10:54:00.002-04:00

You’ve seen how good Leslie Osborne looks on the soccer field, but did you know this pro looks just as good off? Any guy will tell you Leslie’s a hot chick, but it’s her kick-butt field presence and style that’s really caught the eye of female fans. Oh, and Puma, who has chosen her as one of the faces of their new Women's Soccer Training Collection.

During the fun NYC launch party for the new line, Takkle got the chance to sit down and chat with the superstar athlete, who dished her five tips for going pro. Check out this video from the party, then read Leslie’s words of wisdom to find out how you can become the next, well, her.

1. Growing up, I always thought about what other people were doing and how hard they were working. I always thought about someone working harder than me and it made me always push harder.

2. Have fun and make sure you enjoy your sport – have a smile on your face because, at the end of the day, you’re not going to succeed if you’re not really enjoying it.

3. Work on your weaknesses but focus on your strengths. If you’re good at something, you’ll continue to be good at it, so don’t focus so much on what you’re not good at.

4. Build relationships. You’re going to meet so many new people throughout your career and you’re going to need to use those relationships for the rest of your life, so take advantage of who you have as a mentor or coach.

5. Use your resources. As you come across other pro players, veteran players or retired players, make sure you talk to them. Find out what they do. I wish I would have done that more. I thought I knew what I was doing and I should have used my resources more.

Cameron Heyward Has Everything to Prove

2011-04-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward tests at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) in New York City. Heyward is one of 14 NFL prospects featured in the new web series “Everything To Prove” – Gatorade/Steve Boyle

I was lucky enough to sit down with Cameron Heyward and talk about his experience at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. We also talked about Gatorade's "Everything to Prove" series, and what he has done to prepare for one of the biggest days of his life, the NFL Draft. Later this week Cameron is expected to be drafted in the first or second round of the NFL draft. Heyward is one of the top ranked defensive linemen, where most experts see him as an ideal fit as a DE in a 3-4 defense.

TAKKLE: Just a few thoughts, what have you learned about sports nutrition over the past few months that you didn’t know before?

CH: It’s just very vital. Hydration is a key for always bringing more energy to your body. So you need to be hydrated before a workout, and you never want to feel thirsty during a workout because then you’re already behind the eight ball. I’ve just been working on things to put in your body to better myself for the next level.

TAKKLE: When you were first approached about this series and the chance to work with the scientists what did you think it would be in your head, and what has it ended up being for you?

CH: I just jumped at the chance, really. For me, I thought it would be more of a test tube, where I would just be in a chamber or something testing me there. But this process has had some really great scientists. They’re there to measure you, but they’re also there to help you. They’re not just looking at you through a glass wall, and having them there with you along the way helping me grow on and off the field, you know, it will help my production on the field. I’ll be able to pay attention a lot more, and it will help a lot with the mental side of things as well.

TAKKLE: Many athletes have been affected by injuries at some point in their careers, do you feel like your elbow injury has negatively affected your ability to prepare for the combine and your pro day?

CH: I didn’t do anything at the combine, but I think it just motivated me even more to get healthy and, you know, when I got my chance at my pro day it was like Christmas. I got the chance to show off my hard work, and I think it (the injury) only pushed me more to come back stronger.

TAKKLE: Do you feel that you came out with a chip on your shoulder and feeling like you had something to prove at the pro day?

CH: I think so. You know, having all those coaches there, and, for me, I knew I had to prove myself. I knew everybody was looking at me, because there was no other player there they were coming up to see. So having the support of some great trainers at Arizona API, and getting my strength back then my positions coach, Thurman Moore, really helped prepare me for the drills.

TAKKLE: What was your favorite test today, and what was your least favorite?

CH: My favorite, I would have to say was the mile run there at the end. I looked a lot better than the last time, and I think my least favorite, I would have to say, was the anabolic because I was ready to fall asleep – even though that’s probably up there with my favorites.

TAKKLE: You made the decision to watch the draft at home. Can you talk about why you made that decision, and why it’s important for you to watch it from home?

CH: Well, I think everybody is different in their decisions, and for me personally, I feel like I’m a very family-orientated guy. I want to spend this time with my family and friends, because these people have helped me become the person I am today. They’ve been along in my journey, and they deserve to be celebrated. It’s great to be in New York and to be with the fans, but I feel as though my family and my friends need to be celebrated. I want to truly thank them when I do get drafted.

TAKKLE: Are there any particular teams you would like to be drafted by?

CH: Any team in the US, because it’s a great honor. To play in the NFL, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and wherever I go I’ll be happy.

TAKKLE: What advice would you give high school athletes who are looking for an extra edge in getting recruited by colleges?

CH: Just do things right off the field. You know, I think that a lot of coaches appreciated that. Wherever you go – it doesn’t matter where – if you continue to conduct yourself right and be accountable in the classroom and on the field, those are the things coaches look for. They’re going to ask your teachers, they’re going to ask your principle, does he have any issues? But if you take care of your class work and are able to be reliable then coaches feel more at ease with you.

Ndamukong Suh Interview

2011-03-01T13:33:00.001-05:00

When I was down in Dallas in the beginning of February I was lucky enough to meet with Ndamukong Suh, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for the '10/'11 season. We spoke about what went into his decision process in choosing a college, and ways to stand out as a high school recruit, among many other things.

Ndamukong also gave some insight as to what it was like working with the scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. We're all looking for that extra edge both mentally and physically and Gatorade has helped hundreds, if not thousands of world class athletes reach the outer limits through nutrition and training.

Tune in below to listen to the whole interview.

Destination Dallas

2011-02-28T16:49:00.012-05:00

So the big day came and went, and I'm a changed man, both physically and mentally. I flew down to Dallas on Monday of Superbowl week, and went through the same battery of tests I had been put through six weeks earlier. With the help of the scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, and my own personal trainer in Todd Durkin I had made significant progress.

Susan Goldman/Gatorade

In those six weeks I had lost five pounds of fat, and gained three pounds of muscle. On December 14th I stepped on the scale weighing 211 lbs, six weeks later on February 1st, I stepped on the scale and I was 209 lbs. At first glance I would've thought, all of that hard work and only 2 lbs? Through detailed analysis however it was shown that my hard work did pay off, as my body fat dropped from 18.6% to 16.3%.

The fuel plan in combination with help of Todd's workout regimen really paid dividends. I had sustained energy throughout the day and was able to get in 60 - 90 minute high impact workouts after a long work day and see great results.

Below you will find my results from the physical aptitude tests I conducted with Todd.

Dec 14, 2010
All exercises are the number of times completed in a minute, except for the plank.

Pushups: 39
One Leg Balance touches:

Left: 13
Right: 17

Situps: 32
Plank: 1min 20 seconds

February 1, 2011

Pushups: 49
One Leg Balance touches:

Left: 31
Right: 28

Situps: 37
Plank: 2 min 35 seconds

I definitely have a long ways to go here, but the results are encouraging! If you're interested in seeing how I fared in the other tests conducted by the scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, you can see the rest of the details after the jump.

Wingate: This test measures the anaerobic capacity.

Initial Results:

Peak Power: 1009 W

/> 95th percentile

Fatigue Index: 46.09%

~80th percentile

Anaerobic Capacity: 8.2 W/kg

~90th percentile

Post Results:

Peak Power: 998 W

/> 95th percentile

Fatigue Index: 39.8% * A lower fatigue index is more desirable

~59th percentile

Anaerobic Capacity: 9.0 W/kg

/> 95th percentile

Susan Goldman/Gatorade

D2: This test measures cognitive function.

Initial Results:

Hits: 94
Hits to Misses: 98%
Fastest Time: .42 sec
Average Time: .63sec

Post Results:

Hits: 94
Hits to Misses: 96%
Fastest Time: .39 sec
Average Time: .60sec

Susan Goldman/Gatorade

I-SPAN: Measures mental and physical performance.

Initial Results:

Total Time: 21.71 sec
Fastest Time: .823 sec
Slowest Time: 1.816 sec
Average Time: 1.109 sec

Post Results:

Total Time: 19.07 sec
Fastest Time: .678 sec
Slowest Time: 1.625 sec
Average Time: 1.072 sec

Susan Goldman/Gatorade

1-mile treadmill run: Estimates VO2max.

Initial Results: 44.64 mL/kg/min

53rd percentile for males my age

Post Results: 47.26 mL/kg/min

67th percentile for males my age.

Susan Goldman/Gatorade

With everything all said and done with now, I'm happy to say the hard work paid off! Following Todd's mantra's of "10 in 10 out" and the 80/20 rule I have seen gains all across the board and hope to maintain my gains. Using the Gatorade products throughout this process has definitely given me that extra edge I've been seeking. I've noticed a significant difference when taking the Gatorade Prime before a workout and supplementing that with a bottle of G2 during a workout. I sweat a whole lot, so it's crucial that I stay hydrated and energized during these high intensity workouts. Lastly, getting that proper mix of protein and carbs at the end of the workout with Gatorade Recover is the perfect supplement to end a workout.

Playoffs? We're Talking About Playoffs? You kidding me?

2011-01-27T16:48:00.001-05:00

Heading into week 2, Todd had asked if I ever used a TRX before, or if I had access to one. I declined and said that I have never used one, nor did I have access to one. A few days later and Todd had sent over a TRX for me to use during this training regimen.

I was pumped! Unfortunately, living in a studio apt in NYC doesn't leave me many places to use the TRX, I’m still able to bring it to the gym and utilize it completely.

Todd is an incredible motivator, and a great trainer. We only met face to face once, and exchanged a number of emails over the past few weeks; he had me hooked on improving myself for this re-test, bringing out my inner athlete. A few weeks later he sent over his book, IMPACT. I read it cover to cover on a flight down to Miami for the weekend. For anyone looking for a change, I strongly suggest picking up this book; it will change your outlook on everything!

I’ve been able to follow my training and fuel regimen over this time and overall I feel great. I’ve averaged 3-4 trips to the gym each week. I’m heading down the home stretch now, with the final test set for Tuesday February 1^st. I’m hoping to at least improve on a couple of areas, we’ll soon find out!

For anyone that hasn't used the TRX, I strongly suggest buying one, or asking your local gym to buy one. By using your own bodyweight, it helps to add explosiveness and balance and can be used just about anywhere for a challenging total body workout.

The last two weeks have been tuned up and man is this tough. We're in the playoffs now!

Here's the "Playoffs" workout for weeks 4-6.

Warm-up—5-10 minutes on treadmill, elliptical, bike, etc.

Dynamic Warm-up

Jumping Jacks
Gate Swings
Pogo hops
Seal Jacks
Reverse lunge with reach overhead

Circuit #1: (Lower Body Plyos, upper body/core strength)

Squat Jumps x 10
Pushups x 20
Lunge Hops x 20 total
Plank to Pushups x 5-10 per arm
Skater Plyos x 20 total

Repeat circuit 2 times in shortest amount of time possible; approximate 30-60 sec rest between exercises.

Plank to pushups—start in “hover” plank (elbows & toes); lift one hand/arm up to pushup position and then other hand/arm up. So you start low and finish in pushup position; that is one. 5-10 per arm.

Circuit #2: (Core)

1. Bosu Opposite elbow to knee x 15 per side

2. Bosu Side-ups x 15 per side

Repeat circuit 2 times.

Circuit #3: (Lower Body/Upper Body)

Walking Lunges x 20
Swiss Ball or Barbell Bench Press x 15, 10, max
Kettlebell or DB Straight Legged Dead lift x 10-15
Lat Pulldowns / TRX Curls & Rows x 10-15 each

Complete circuit 3 times;

On Bench Press; do 15 reps 1^st set; 10 reps on the 2^nd set; and choose a challenging weight & do max reps on last set;

Can choose lat pulldowns or TRX curls & Rows; if you are feeling super-motivated, do both! That would be “And Then Some”

Circuit #4: “Gun Show—Suns out; Guns are out”

Overhead Rope Extensions & Tricep Pressdowns x 10-15 each
DB Bicep Curls 10-10-10’s (see book)

Repeat circuit 3 times. Choose whatever kind of curls you want on set #3.

BONUS “AND THEN SOME” Circuit: “Core Crusher”

TRX Atomic Pushups x 10
TRX Pendulum Swings x 10
TRX Planks x max time

Complete 1 set of each

(Do if time permits or you have it in the “tank” to get through it)

Grand Finale Conditioning: (3 days total)

1 Day: “Mix it up”
Sprint #1 60 seconds

Sprint #2 30 seconds

Sprint #3 30 seconds

Sprint #4 15-20 seconds

Sprint #5 15-20 seconds

Sprint #6 As long as you can possibly go at your 60 second speed

(each time you decrease the time, you should increase the speed of the treadmill except for #6)

as much rest as needed between sprints; 30-60 seconds is goal

1 Day: “PERFECT 10”
Find a “comfortable”, fast pace that you can run at for approximately 60 seconds

Sprint #1 5.0 mph; 2.5 incline 20-30 seconds

Sprint #2 6.0 mph; 3.5 incline 20-30 seconds

Sprint #3 7.0 mph; 4.5 incline 20-30 seconds

Sprint #4 8.0 mph; 6.0 incline 15-30 seconds

Each successive sprint—move up 1.0 incline and .5 or 1.0 mph until you can’t do any more

The goal is to eventually get 10.0 mph, 10.0 incline for 10 seconds

1 Day: “Legs go crazy”

Sprint #1  2 minutes (not really a sprint but a nice strider)
Sprint #2  1 minute
Sprint #3  30 seconds
Sprint #4  Fast as you can go comfortably for 15-30 seconds

Sprint #5 2 minutes (easy stride to flush it out)

Take as much rest as you would like in between sprints; the less rest you take, the harder it will be!

Stretching:

10-15 minutes

Complete this program 3 days per week;

Complete additional 15-30 minutes of cardio 2-3 times per week; cardio can be done on same day as training or on opposite days.

Stay tuned for the results, I'll see you at the Super Bowl!

Week 1: 10 in 10 out

2011-01-24T18:02:00.002-05:00

The first thing that stood out to me was the warm-up/dynamic warm-up to get me going. This is really a great way to get the blood moving and the heart rate up.This is also something I have always avoided in my past routines. Going forward there's no way I will skip a dynamic warm-up now.

By limiting the amount of rest I took between exercises + circuits, it definitely forced me to use everything I had in the tank . In the 45-60 minutes it took to do complete this routine I felt physically exhausted but energized at the same time.

One of the major mantras that Todd preaches is 10 in 10 out. Don't go into your workouts with a 7 on the effort scale and expect to get 10 out of it. It's 10 in 10 out baby!

My goal was to get 3-4 workouts in each week.

Here’s the workout I was given by Todd for week one:

Super Bowl Preparation Workouts—Week #1:

Warm-up—5-10 minutes on treadmill, elliptical, bike, etc.

Dynamic Warm-up

Circuit #1:

Bodyweight Squats x 10-20
Pushups x 10-20
Core Touches x 10-20 (lie on back; arms over head; “sit-up” to touch hands to feet.
Burpees with pushups x 10

Repeat 2-3 times in shortest amount of time possible

Circuit #2:

1. Walking Lunges with dumbbell shldr flys x 10-20

2. DB Bicep Curls & Tricep Kickbacks x 10-15 each (perform your curls; take 20 seconds rest and then complete kickbacks)

3. Lat Pulldowns x 10(alternative exercise is 1 arm dumbbell row)

Repeat 2-3 times

Circuit #3:

1. Swiss Ball or Bosu Crunches x 15-20

2. Planks x max time

3. Bench Dips x max

Repeat 2 times

Grand Finale Conditioning:

3 sprints on treadmill at 30 seconds; 30-60 seconds between sprints

Stretching:

10-15 minutes

Stay tuned for the rest of the week's workouts and the addition of TRX and a foam roller to my workouts!

Week 1: Fueled Up

2011-01-19T18:38:00.002-05:00

My first week of training under the guise of Todd Durkin and the scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute was unlike anything I’ve been a part of before. Typically I’ll get to the gym, do a light stretch of whatever muscle group I’m going to work that day, and head straight to the free weights. My routine consisted of 3-4 sets per exercise (8-10 reps each), resting about 2 minutes between sets. If it’s a good day, I’ll throw in 10-15 minutes of ab workouts to call it a night. All in all a workout will take me ~ 60-90 minutes.

As far as eating habits are concerned I’d take down 3-4 eggs with a tortilla about 30 minutes before a workout, and then aim for a whey protein shake with about 40 g of protein afterwards. During my workouts it was strictly water.

Todd’s workouts are nothing close to what I was used to and by the end of my 60 minute workout I was soaked in sweat, exhausted, but energized and ready to kick ass at the same time. I’m not sure if this is due high energy nature of the workouts, or if it’s because of Gatorade’s fuel plan. I’d like to think it’s a combination of both, with a lot of help from the fuel plan.

My fuel plan consisted of a worksheet that gave me suggestions as to what to eat at certain times of the day depending on when I worked out. For the most part I workout in the evenings during the week and will get a mid afternoon workout on occasion during the weekends. The goal is to reach a number of 20 on the fuel score.

Going over the fuel plan with Gatorade Sports Science Institute scientist Melissa Tippet.

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

Below you will see what a blank worksheet looks like for an afternoon/evening workout, and what it takes to reach a score of 20. (I.e fluid, carbohydrate energy is 2 possible points). The numbers don't add up (2+2+2+1+3+4=14) as you can see, but there is a method to the madness and I feel great if I can get to 20 on days I go to the gym.

I’ve been getting Gatorade Prime in before my workouts, G2 and Original Gatorade during my workouts, and Gatorade Recover for right after my workouts and I feel great.

Stay Tuned for tomorrow installment on Todd's workout regimen and see if you can keep up!

The Bod Pod and Whack-A-Mole…

2011-01-12T14:09:00.002-05:00

The next step at my initial test at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute was one of the more humbling/embarrassing moments of the experience. I had to strip down to a pair compression shorts and wear a swim cap. (Note this is the first time I've ever donned a swim cap, and hopefully my last). I entered what was aptly called the “bod pod”, a well-validated and reliable technique, to evaluate how much of an athlete’s body weight is related to lean mass and fat mass.

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

I measured in at 5’ 11 ½, 216 lbs, and 18.6% body fat. This was classified as “Moderately Lean” (A fat level that is generally accepted for good health). My assumption is that it could also be classified as “moderately out of shape.”As I said earlier this isn't typically the time of year when I’m in the best shape, but this result wasn’t the end of the world either. I’m confident after my six week training and fuel program that I’ll in no doubt be in much better shape thanks to the help of the scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) and trainer Todd Durkin.

I then made my way to the Dynavision D2, which I referred to as the “whack-a-mole” machine. This unit was a giant board with a four digit number that would intermittently appear, upon seeing the number I was instructed to repeat the number to the scientist performing the test. All the while, red lights were flashing on and off, and I was tasked with touching them to turn them off. This test measured cognitive function, hand-eye coordination and reaction time. I killed this test, only missing one light, garnering the highest score of the day. This definitely brought me back to the days of going to the arcade and beating the crap out of those pesky little moles. I’ll gladly take this challenge any day.

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

The second test using a Dynavision machine was the ISPAN, by far a much more challenging test than the D2. I stood behind a line marked ~ 2 feet behind the apparatus, and every time a light went on I had to wave my hand in front of the unit, and return back behind the line. My problem was that I had to sometimes wave my hand a couple of times in front of the unit because I had not gotten close enough during the first attempt. What compounded the problem is the fact that the top two corners were just at the top of my reach (as seen below). I wonder if this is designed for more of the prototypical athlete of the 6’4”+ mold.

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

The easy stuff was over; it was now on to the physical endurance tests. The first test was the Wingate test. I warmed up on a stationary bike and then got myself up to top speed, once at top speed, resistance would then be turned on and I would have to pedal as hard as I could for 30 seconds. This was definitely tough for the last 10-15 seconds, as I felt like I was peddling through cement. Upon completion I was told to walk around for a few minutes to avoid any vomiting. There is a large build up of lactic acid after the test and it has been known to have “ill” effects on some of its participants. While I was certainly jelly-legged, I was able to walk around with no negative effects.

The Wingate test measures anaerobic capacity – the system responsible for quick bursts of energy. I did extremely well on this test falling in the >95th percentile for peak power at 1009 watts, my fatigue index was approximately in the 80^th percentile at 46.09%, and my anaerobic capacity fell around the 90^th percentile at 8.2W/kg.

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

The last test on the docket was the test I looked forward to the least, the 1 mile treadmill run. This test measured my aerobic capacity (VO2max) – This is the energy system that allows you to continue activity for a prolonged period. While I consider myself to be fairly active, I stay away from running for prolonged periods of time as much as possible. I had to maintain an even pace for this mile run, and wound up running a mile in something along the lines of 8:30 minutes. The results here were not surprising at all, I fell in the 53^rd percentile with 44.64 mL/kg/min. There is definitely some room for improvement here, just a matter of how much I can get myself to get battle my mortal enemy, commonly known as the treadmill.

Stay tuned for the next installment. I'll take you through my fuel plan and workout plan and update you on how I've progressed so far here in week four.

One on One at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute

2011-01-06T13:54:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was given the opportunity of a lifetime. I would experience first-hand how Gatorade improves the performance of some of the world’s best athletes. I’d be placed through a battery of tests and then given a workout plan and fuel plan and retested 6 weeks later in Dallas during the Super Bowl week. You’d be crazy to think I’d pass up an opportunity like this.

I am by no means a world class athlete, there are no delusions of grandeur here; I played baseball and golf competitively since I was 7, through the end of high school. For a vast majority of my life playing sports and being active has always been a part of my identity, and I am still extremely competitive in my athletic endeavors. I do as much as I can to stay in shape, going through the annual wave of packing on pounds during the winter months and shedding them for those summer months. To me this was a test to see if I still had “it”, unfortunately this opportunity came in my out of shape season.

I try and stay active by going to the gym and lifting weights, with the occasional cardio sessions involved, going to yoga, and I have been involved in some intramural flag football and softball leagues as well. Step aside Rulon Gardner, this was as close to the “Biggest Loser” as I was going to get (insert loser joke here).

I arrived on a cold December evening in what seemed to be a vacant art gallery in the SOHO neighborhood of Manhattan. White walls with a vast open space. To me this didn’t seem like your run of the mill laboratory or gym space. But the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) did a great job here, and the space had been transformed into a mobile laboratory where I would spend the next hour going through a battery of tests.

My first test and by far the easiest occurred in the Metabolic Lab. This was a ten minute session which involved lying still with a breathing apparatus placed over my head to capture my base metabolic rate. This test showed me the minimum number of calories needed per day if I had a sedentary lifestyle.

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

I then met with trainer Todd Durkin, 2 Time Personal Trainer of the Year (IDEA & ACE). Unbeknownst to me, I actually read an article about Todd in Men’s Health a few weeks earlier, and had made that mental note to incorporate some of his methods into my workouts. I had no idea that I would be lucky enough to be under his guidance for a 6 week training program.

Todd placed me through a battery of tests (number of one legged toe touches in a minute, number of pushups in a minute, number of sit ups in a minute, and the length of time I could hold a plank).

Steve Boyle/Gatorade

These tests allowed Todd to gauge my current physical strength and balance, and will serve as the base for my progress when I repeat the tests in the beginning of February. This really allowed Todd to get a feel for where I was at, and how much he could push to get the most out of me. He really was a pleasure to work with; taking the time and effort to get to know me in such a short amount of time to understand my past athletic background, and what I was looking for moving forward.

I don’t want to embarrass myself with the initial test results, as I “conveniently forgot” my results; my goal is to blow you out of the water with how well I improved in the six week time period. It’s all about perspective here.

Stay tuned for the second half of the testing experience, including the Bod Pod, and what was by far the most fun test of the night in what I deemed to be a giant whack-a-mole apparatus. Follow along as I take you through my blood sweat and tears (hopefully it’s just sweat), of this training and fuel program during this six week experience.

#1 Draft Pick: Sam Bradford, QB of the St. Louis Rams

2010-04-23T16:03:00.006-04:00

Recently, Janine from TAKKLE SQUAD interviewed D'Brickashaw Ferguson of the NY Jets in the G Series Mobile Locker Room but she also had the chance to speak with Sam Bradford, the newly selected quarterback by the St. Louis Rams!

Janine and Sam Bradford, QB of the St. Louis Rams

Bradford not only spoke about how he feels towards Gatorade's G-Series products, but he discusses his last year in the University of Oklahoma spent on the sidelines due to injuries. He also shares some great advice for high school athletes who are trying to get recruited for college.

Check out the interview and tell us what you think!

NY Jets D'Brickashaw Ferguson and G Series Mobile Locker Room

2010-04-16T14:59:00.010-04:00

Last Friday, Janine from TAKKLE SQUAD visited the Gatorade G Series Mobile Locker Room in Clarkstown High School South, West Nyack, NY and had the opportunity to interview NY Jets Offensive Tackle, D’Brickashaw Ferguson!

The Gatorade G Series Mobile Locker Room travels to 8 lucky high schools nationwide between March and May for students to use as a fully functional locker room and test the new G Series products made for before, during and after workouts.

Inside the G Series Mobile Locker Room

D’Brickashaw came out to answer a couple of questions from TAKKLE nation, including whether he struggled with football in high school, why he chose UVA over Michigan State, his wise advice for high school athletes trying to get recruited for college, and his favorite G Series flavor. Can you guess what it is?

Check out the video below for the full interview and find out!

Touring the Gatorade Performance Lab

2010-02-19T17:56:00.008-05:00

Jacksonville Jaguars' running back Maurice Jones-Drew (LEFT) chats with our very own Christian Busch (RIGHT) after athletic testing at the Gatorade Performance Lab.

Recently Takkle’s Christian Busch toured the Gatorade Performance Lab at Super Bowl XLIV. Hosted by Jacksonville Jaguar superstar, Maurice Jones-Drew , we learned about Gatorade’s Athlete Performance Tests. Gatorade tested many elite athletes, including N.Y. Giant Super Bowl champ Eli Manning , Philadelphia Eagle’s Pro Bowler DeSean Jackson, and Florida Gator QB Tim Tebow.

We also learned about Gatorade’s new G Series. The G Series goes beyond basic hydration to provide the fuel, fluid, and nutrients required of competitive athletes before, during, and after competition. Gatorade Prime 01 is perfect for pre-workout or pre-game since it includes 10% of the Daily Value of B vitamins to provide maximum energy metabolism. Gatorade Perform 02 provides enough carbohydrates and electrolytes to cover in-game hydration while G2 Perform 02, a low-calorie option, is made for active people who don’t want the calories. To top it all off, Gatorade Recover 03 is the first protein beverage made for post-game rehydration and muscle recovery.

Check out Gatorade's Video and Audio galleries to learn more.

Brock Lesnar Back In Action!

2010-01-21T10:41:00.005-05:00

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) took a blow in November when current Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar, had to be hospitalized for a case of diverticulitis. Doctors insisted Lesnar would need surgery to fix his intestine, which would take him out of the fighting cage for a while.

In a miraculous discovery following his most recent check-up, Lesnar's health seems to be much better than anticipated. Surgery is no longer in the horizon, and the UFC's blockbuster of a star, is training once again. During his 11 day stint in the hospital, Lesnar lost 40 pounds, and since his recovery, has been training to get back into fighting shape.

So when can we see Brock back in action? Dana White, UFC president, expects Brock to fight for his title this summer. Lesnar will face the the winner of the fight between Shane Carwin and former Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir. The Heavyweight Champ vs. the Interim Champ! This is a match-up you don't want to miss!

Athletes Help Raise Money for Haiti

2010-01-20T10:22:00.007-05:00

After the tragedy that occurred in Haiti last week, people across the world have been pulling together to find ways to raise money for the disaster relief. Athletes, as well as members of the sports community, have come up with creative ways to help. Here are just a few examples:

South Dakota State head coach, Scott Nagy, will coach his team barefoot this weekend, to encourage people to donate shoes and money to the disaster relief. Nagy's personal affliction stems from his adoptive daughter, Naika, who was born in Haiti. In her honor, High School coaches across South Dakota will also be coaching barefoot.

After the Cavaliers beat Toronto last evening, Shaquille O'Neal revealed his plan to raise money for Haiti and revive the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest. The goal is to get former dunk champions to participate in the event in hopes of attracting a larger crowd, and a larger prize. The prize money, according to O'Neal would be split, half going to relief in Haiti, and the other half awarded to the Dunk Contest winner.

On the eve of the Australian Open, tennis stars took time out of their intense practice schedules to help raise money. In front of a packed arena, the "Hit for Haiti" match included players such as Roger Federer, Kim Clijsters, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Roddick. Miked up, both players and fans enjoyed a relaxed and entertaining atmosphere, and raised over $185,000.

In such a time of need, it's nice to see people going above and beyond to help. Is your school doing anything creative to raise money? Let us know!

Opening Day Serves Up Some Surprises

2010-01-19T10:18:00.006-05:00

The Australian Open began yesterday, and many of Tennis' greatest stars have already faced obstacles in their short-lived time "down under." Most predicted an easy game for #1 ranked Roger Federer, but fans were surprised to see him struggle against Igor Andreev. Andreev came out strong in the beginning, taking the first set 6-4. Federer fought back in the second set, and a tie-break in the third put Federer up 2-1. With his boost of adrenaline, Federer put Andreev away 6-0 in the final set.

Andy Roddick beat Thiemo de Bakker in 3 straight sets, only after experiencing a run in with the line judge...literally. Roddick was running to get the ball, when a linesman failed to move out of the way, and Roddick tripped over his foot . Fortunately, the collision did not cause any injury to Roddick, who has been struggling with knee problems.

The greatest upset of opening day was Maria Sharapova's loss to fellow Russian player Maria Kirilenko. After a tie-break in the first set, Kirilenko squeaked out an early lead. Sharapova came back in the second set, winning 6-3, but could not hold on in the 3rd. The stakes were high for Sharapova's return to the Australian Open, after missing last year's tournament due to a right shoulder injury. The world was waiting to see the 2008 champ back in action, unfortunately, the world will have to wait until next year.

Clippers' Injury Curse Strikes Again!

2010-01-14T10:15:00.006-05:00

This past June, College basketball players, as well as others outside the country, gathered in Madison Square Garden for the 2009 NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Clippers had first pick, and chose Blake Griffin, the Power Forward from Oklahoma. Griffin's season looked promising, until he injured his knee in the team's final preseason game in October. The injury, ruled a stress fracture, would keep him from playing any games until mid-season.

Reports came out yesterday that Griffin's injury was not healing properly, and the athlete will have to undergo surgery on his broken left knee cap. An unfortunate circumstance for the Clippers, who seem to be cursed with the same incident occuring the past 3 decades. The 1988-89 season left the team high and dry when their #1 draft pick, Danny Manning, tore a ligament in his knee and had to have surgery. A decade later Michael Olowokandi played 45 games, before getting hurt.

With Griffin's surgery set for January 20, the team is hopeful about his recovery and return next season. Should he be ready for the 2010-2011 season, Griffin will remain an eligible candidate for rookie of the year. The Clippers will play their home team rival, the L.A. Lakers, this Friday night.

McGwire Admits Using Steroids

2010-01-12T10:37:00.005-05:00

Since the '98 home run race against Sammy Sosa, rumors have been swirling about Mark McGwire and steroid use. When initially questioned he, as well as many other MLB players, denied...denied...denied. After the House Government Reform Committee hearing in 2005, baseball players began confessing their steroid usage. In addition, the release of Jose Canseco's book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big, revealed what many baseball fans had presumed.

McGwire made headlines yesterday, as he openly admitted to using performance enhancing drugs during his Major League career. Though this does not come as a shock to most people, McGwire's long-awaited confession was propelled by his recent hiring as hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals.

His new role as, "coach," brings up some debate. Does he fit the mentor role coaches need to embody? Can his players trust his batting advice, after finding out he had drugs enhancing his game? Does he deserve a nomination into the Baseball Hall of Fame?

If you have answers to any of these questions, feel free to share your thoughts.

Wild-Card Weekend Locks Playoff Schedule

2010-01-11T10:13:00.047-05:00

Super Bowl Sunday is only a few weeks from now, and the way the Wild-Card games played out this weekend, we've got a lot to look forward to. The playoffs began Saturday with the game between the NY Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals, less than 1 week after their last meeting. Even with the home-field advantage, the Bengals could not pull out a victory. Skeptics were weary about a Jets victory due to their rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez, but it was his playing Saturday that helped the team advance. Sanchez threw for 182 yards, and a TD, resulting in a 24-14 victory, and the first playoff win for the Jets since 2004.

Following the Jets-Bengals game was the Wild-Card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. With former President Bush cheering them on, the Cowboys beat the Eagles 34-14, another long awaited playoff victory. Dallas has not advanced in the playoffs since 1996, and are set to play the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round.

Sunday afternoon, the Baltimore Ravens took on the New England Patriots, and came out strong from the get-go. Within the first 5 minutes of the game, the Ravens were winning 14-0 thanks to an 83-yard rush by Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain's TD. By the end of the first quarter, the Ravens had a nice cushion of a 24-0 lead. New England was able to score 2 touch downs, but Baltimore came out victorious with a final score of 33-14.

The final Wild-Card game was Sunday night between the Green Bay Packers, and the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona took a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and continued to hold the lead until the 4th. Green Bay picked up the pace, and just after the 2-minute warning, scored a TD, making the score 45-45, and forcing the game into overtime. After only 1:18 into the extra play, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers fumbled the ball, bouncing it off of his foot, and right into Karlos Dansby's hands. Dansby ran 17 yards for the Arizona win. The Cardinals will face the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round of playoffs on January 16.

Alabama Wins BCS Championship as McCoy Watches From the Sidelines

2010-01-08T22:31:00.007-05:00

What would you do if you were backup quarterback for Colt McCoy, barely played in a game this season, and the National title rested on your shoulders. This is the reality Garrett Gilbert had to face in last night's BCS National Championship. For those of you that did not watch the game, let's set the scene.

We're in Pasadena, California, on the same field where a few days earlier, Ohio State beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Wearing crimson and white, you have the #1 nationally ranked Alabama. The Crimson Tide have not won a national title since 1992, and their starting running back is none other than this year's Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram. Wearing burnt orange and white is the opposing team, #2 Texas, who has a winning record in their last 8 meetings against the Tide.

Two minutes into the game, Texas has the ball, and McCoy's passing game was spot on as usual, Gilbert watched from the sideline. That is, until, Texas called an early timeout and McCoy ran off the field holding his shoulder. This was Garrett's time to shine, and the first quarter proved he, and his teamates, were not ready to give up so quickly. Two successful field goal attempts put the Longhorns on top 6-0.

Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram, came out strong in the first minute of the second quarter, rushing for a touchdown and continued to dominate over Texas well into the second half of the game. There was a glimmer of hope in the 3rd quarter when Garrett Gilbert through a pass to Jordan Shipley for a touchdown, but it was Alabama who took home the title, and defeated Texas 37-21.

Many "what if" questions can be asked about the way things played out last night, and the truth is...we'll never know the answers. Congratulations to Alabama on their victory, and Texas for putting up a great fight!

Athletes and Gatorade Scientists 'Team Up' For New Product-Line

2010-01-07T15:09:00.013-05:00

When athletes look to rehydrate, they turn to Gatorade. When Gatorade looks to create a new product, they go right to the source...athletes.

Peyton Manning (pictured), Dwyane Wade, Derek Jeter, Landon Donovan and Abby Wambach are among several athletes working with scientists, from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, to create a new product-line. The line will feature regiments for athletes before, during, and after physical performance.

Curious as to how this new product will help your performance? During the Super Bowl, Gatorade will be providing a look at the products in action. If you can't make it down to Miami, no worries! You will be able to see your favorite athletes LIVE via uStream, and even ask them questions via chat or Twitter!

Look out for the product later this year, we can't wait!

'Bama vs. Texas, Who's Going to Win?

2010-01-07T10:14:00.008-05:00

This is it! The moment we've all been waiting for! The 2009 BCS National Championship Game will be played tonight at 8 P.M. on ABC. The Texas Longhorns will face the Alabama Crimson Tide, a match-up that has not occurred in a Bowl game since the 1982 Cotton Bowl, when Texas was victorious, 14-12. Not since 2005 have both National Champ. teams entered the game with undefeated seasons, and tonight's game will definitely prove to make history.

Who do you think is going to win tonight? #1 ranked Alabama, who holds the record for most Bowl appearances with 57? Or #2 Texas, who has the second-most Bowl appearances, but has dominated Alabama the last 8 meetings with a 7-0-1 record. Let us know!

Takkle Top 200 Players Featured in All-American Bowl

2010-01-06T15:12:00.003-05:00

This Saturday, January 9, is the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where the best High School Football players will compete against each other. Many players from our Top 200 list made the cut, including our Top 3 ranked athletes: Ronald Powell, Seantrel Henderson, and Tony Jefferson.

Ronald Powell is highlighted in Primetime Episode 6, which looks at the top H.S. Defensive Ends in the country. Footage of Powell's athleticism and on-field instincts prove why he deserves the number 1 recruiting spot.

Number 2 recruit, Seantrel Henderson is featured in Episode 1 of this season's Primetime series. His agility and quickness make him a tough Offensive Tackle to go up against.

Tony Jefferson earned his #3 spot by being a multi-talented player on the field. He's featured in Primetime Episode 8, which focuses on his ability to excel in different field positions.

Good luck to the players selected from our Top 200 list, as well as the other All-Americans!

The "Big Unit" Announces Retirement

2010-01-06T11:11:00.003-05:00

After 22 seasons as a pitcher in the Major League, 5 Cy Young Awards, 1 World Series Championship, and a perfect game, Randy Johnson, has decided to "hang up his hat" for good. Johnson, 46, entered the baseball scene in the '80s, where his long hair, thick mustache, and crazy slider brought him much attention. Over time, the hair has gotten shorter, the mustache has thinned, but Johnson's stand-out pitching has remained the same -- even the birds are scared of him. (Remember when he hit the dove!)

Johnson spent majority of his MLB years with Seattle, then Arizona; where he earned the sought-after pitching Triple Crown. His career ended this past season in San Francisco, and a struggle with an injured shoulder forced him to take the mound as a relief pitcher. Perhaps, this is why we aren't so shocked Johnson's finally ready to retire. And for that reason we'd like to say, "you've earned it Randy!" Enjoy your retirement, we'll see you in the Hall of Fame.

2010 Fiesta Bowl Recipe

2010-01-05T10:48:00.006-05:00

Ingredients
2 Nationally ranked College Football teams
*for best results, use Boise State and Texas Christian University
2 Undefeated Seasons
1 Fiesta Bowl (Game that is)
1 Successful trick play
27 Combined points

Directions

Take the 2 nationally ranked College Football teams and prep them for final game of the season. This should take no longer than 4 weeks.
Sprinkle in both team's undefeated record. This will add a little extra spice.
Add contents into 1 Bowl, Fiesta style.
Stir it up, allowing both teams to score 1 touchdown, and 1 field goal each. Alternate between the two, as to enhance the results over the allotted time, see example below. (BSU-7, TCU-0), (BSU-10, TCU-0), (BSU-10, TCU-7), (BSU-10, TCU-10)
When there are about 12 minutes left on the clock, add 1 successful trick play. *Before adding to the mixture, set up the Boise State players in a fake punt formation. This maneuver will stun Texas Christian and will be the key ingredient to finishing the recipe.
As the clock runs out, you will end with Boise State on top, (17-10) and a great Fiesta Bowl!

75-ft Shot Wins Florida the Game!

2010-01-04T10:22:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year TAKKLE fans! 2009 was a great year for sports, and it seems like 2010 is starting off just as well. We've been glued to the TV watching endless amounts of Bowl games, but the final BCS Bowls, and National Championship game are scheduled for this week. As College Football is coming to a close, College Basketball is picking up the pace, with only 2 more months until the "madness" begins!

If yesterday's NC State-Florida game is any preview of what's to come, hold on to your hats! With 2.6 seconds left in overtime, it seemed as if the Wolfpack were set to win the game 61-59. That is, until Farnold Degan missed his second free-throw, and the ball was rebounded by Florida's Chandler Parsons. Parsons took two dribbles, launched the ball from behind the half-court line, and swished it in just as time ran out! Florida defeated NC State 62-61.

This shot is too good to miss, so check it out!

Breaking Records Looks Easy, If You're Martin Brodeur

2009-12-22T10:30:00.007-05:00

Exactly 2 weeks ago, Martin Brodeur was congratulated on tying Terry Sawchuk's 40-year-old record for the most regular season shutouts. Now, the record is all his! That's right, Marty Brodeur has a new record in the books, 104 career shutouts. With much help from his teammates last night, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0. The win boosted the Devils into the #1 slot in the Atlantic Division, with a 26-8-1 record, and leaves Pittsburgh trailing close behind.

This achievement comes 2 games after Brodeur set another record for the most regular-season appearances by a goalie, with 1, 030. And the number continues to rise. Congratulations Marty, we look forward to what you have in store for us in 2010!

It's Bowl Time!!

2009-12-21T10:50:00.009-05:00

As most of us in the Northeast were snowed in this weekend, it couldn't have come at a better time with the start of College Bowl Games. Fresno State and Wyoming kicked off Bowl Season Saturday night at University Stadium in Albuquerque, NM. Both teams battled it out from the beginning, as touchdowns went back and forth through the end of the second quarter. At the end of the 4th, Fresno State was ready to do a victory dance, until Ian Watts (Wyoming) kicked a 37-yard field goal to tie the game 28-28. After a score-less overtime, the teams pushed through to a second overtime where Wyoming scored the winning touchdown, ending the game 35-28. This was Wyoming's first bowl game since 2004.

Following the New Mexico Bowl, the attention focused on UCF vs. Rutgers in St. Petersburg, FL. From the start, Rutgers was dominating the field, scoring within the first few minutes, then maintaining a steady lead throughout the rest of the game. Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers was the man to watch as he ran for 2 touchdowns, scored his own TD on a pass from Tom Savage. This is the 4th consecutive Bowl Game Rutgers has won in the past 5 Bowls they have played in.

The final Bowl Game of the week took place Sunday night, as Southern Mississippi was defeated by Middle Tennessee in the New Orleans Bowl. Tennessee's Dwight Dasher set a record for the most yards yards rushed by a quarterback in a bowl game, with 201. Southern Mississippi took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, and that was the last time they had a lead the rest of the game. The Blue Raiders' victory last night, 42-32, marked the team's second appearance ever in a bowl game.

Bowl Games to watch this week:

Tuesday, Dec. 22 @ 8:00 PM ET
Oregon State vs. Brigham Young
Wednesday, Dec. 23 @ 8:00 PM ET
Utah vs. California
Thursday, Dec. 24 @ 8:00 PM ET
Nevada vs. Southern Methodist
Saturday, Dec. 26
@ 1:00 PM ET, Ohio vs. Marshall
@ 4:30 PM ET, Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina
@ 8:00 PM ET, Boston College vs. USC
Sunday, Dec. 27 @ 8:30 PM ET
Kentucky vs. Clemson

Christmas Comes Early In Philadelphia

2009-12-17T10:17:00.016-05:00

We've all heard about, read about, and now it's official! The 4 team MLB trade that has been on everyone's mind for the past few days was completed yesterday, as the Phillies acquired Roy Halladay and sent Cliff Lee packing, to Seattle that is. It took 9 players to make the trade, and here's the breakdown of how it all happened:

	To Mariners	To Phillies	To Blue Jays	To Athletics
From Mariners		Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, Juan Ramirez**
From Phillies	Cliff Lee		Travis d'Arnaud Kyle Drabek	Michael Taylor^ **
From Blue Jays		Roy Halladay $6 million
From Athletics			Brett Wallace**

^Via Toronto
**Minor League Player

~On a side note, our thoughts go out to the family of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, Chris Henry, who passed away early this morning.~

Arena Football Coming Your Way in '10

2009-12-15T10:43:00.006-05:00

One year ago, the Arena Football League faced economic hardships, and had to cancel its upcoming 2009 season. After filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the league needed to take time to restructure. Recently, it has been announced that arena football will be back in action this April, with a new league, Arena Football One, new commissioner, Jerry Kurz, and a new market.
Arena Football One will combine the teams of the former AFL with those from the af2, a league that had teams in smaller markets such as Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Milwaukee.

The previous league caught much exposure with big names such as co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul, Jon Bon-Jovi, and former player -gone-pro, Kurt Warner. The plan to appear in small and large cities, as well as increase in marketing outlets, could be what the newest arena league needs to survive. Team rosters and schedules are expected to be official by the end of the year, as we are all anticipating what this new league has in store.

Gatorade Announces High School Player of the Year Award

2009-12-14T10:42:00.004-05:00

Since its creation in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year Award has been given to High School athletes who have achieved recognition in their sport. A student-athlete is recognized in each of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia. From there, one student is selected as the National Player of the Year for each individual high school sport, including: boys football, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys baseball, girls softball and boys and girls track & field.

So far, the winner of the 2009-2010 football season has been announced, and the prestigious honor goes to Malcolm Jones, of Oaks Christian High School, CA. Jones, a Running Back, has committed to play at UCLA next season, and his athleticism on the field helped bring his team to a 13-0 record, and the CIF Northwest Division finals. Jones was ranked #60 on our TAKKLE Top 200 H.S. football list, as well as many of the other athletes awarded as State Winners.

Bizarre Fooball Play Still Keeps Us Questioning

2009-12-10T11:47:00.006-05:00

Ok, so most of you saw this last week, but we at Takkle are still talking about it! As the video shows it, Zerbie Sanders, lineman for Florida State, sets up for a play as usual, but as everyone else continues with the play, he stays in his ready position. This video has spread all over the Internet world, but no one knows exactly what happened!

This bizarre play, if you even can call it a play, took place at the 11/28 game against the Florida Gators. Whether it was a fluke, or part of a play, FSU faces West Virginia on January 1 at the Gator Bowl, and we look forward to seeing if any other similar events occur.

Check out the video and let us know what you think! http://bit.ly/7zye8r

Stock Cars in the Horizon for Danica Patrick

2009-12-09T10:47:00.006-05:00

The 2009 season for NASCAR has been bumpy, but the recent decision by Danica Patrick to enter the stock-car realm could give the league the boost it needs. Patrick, a well known female IndyCar racer, has decided to enter the Nationwide Series this upcoming 2010 season. She has joined forces with Dale Earnhardt Jr., and will partially drive for his JR Motorsports Nationwide Series team.

But, don't get your hopes up, it will be a while until we see Danica racing with the pros. Her premier in the minors will begin February 6 in the ARCA race at Daytona, where she will sport a No.7 stock car, sponsored by GoDaddy.com. From there, it may take a few years until we see her race competitively in the Sprint Cup Series, as she will need time to adjust from driving open-wheel cars to stock cars.

As if these hurdles were not enough, Danica faces the gender issue. As a woman in a male dominated sport, she is open to much criticism and disappointment by fans in the beginning. Unlike other women who have tried to excel in the "major league," Danica will be given the proper equipment to establish herself on the track. Her success could open many opportunities for not only NASCAR, but for women in the racing industry.

Marty Wrecks Another Record

2009-12-08T11:08:00.007-05:00

The New Jersey Devils earned their 20th win last night in Buffalo, but the personal victory went to the goalie, Martin Brodeur. The team's shut-out last night allowed Brodeur to tie the record for most regular season shut-outs set by Terry Sawchuk with 103. But, this doesn't come new to Brodeur.

In his 17 years as a Devil, Brodeur has logged over 60,500 minutes of play time, and holds 21 NHL all-time records. It seems like Marty has set the pace for this season already and is close to breaking other records this season. Brodeur needs to play in 5 more games to break the record of most games played by a goalie, 1, 029, set by former Colorado Avalanche goalie, Patrick Roy.

Look for more record breaking opportunities as the Devils play at home Wednesday night against the Hurricanes.

Your BCS Bowl Game Guide

2009-12-07T10:38:00.009-05:00

This past Sunday, the College Football selections were announced for the 2009-2010 BCS Bowl Games. With the 30-something total games, here are the main BCS attractions:

Rose Bowl: This BCS Bowl game features the Big 10 conference champ, Ohio State, against the Pac-10 conference winner, Oregon. This game will take place on January 1, in Pasadena, CA.

Sugar Bowl: SEC champ, Florida, will play against Big East's Cincinnati in this Bowl Game on January 1, in New Orleans, LA.

Fiesta Bowl: Boise State will play against Texas Christian University on January 4, in Glendale, AZ. This year's game features two teams against each other who did not automatically qualify.

Orange Bowl: This BCS Bowl Game will match-up ACC champ Georgia Tech against Iowa (Big Ten). The game will take place on January 5, in Miami, FL.

BCS National Championship: This year, #1 Alabama and #2 Texas will battle it out in the Championship Game, on January 7, in Pasadena, CA. Both teams are undefeated which will make this final game even more exciting!

In addition to these headliners, other bowl games will begin on December 19 and will continue until the final game on January 7.

C'mon Nets...We Just Want One!

2009-12-03T10:47:00.007-05:00

Last night, the New Jersey Nets set an official NBA record, and not one worth bragging about. Their 18th loss puts them in the books as the worst starting record in professional basketball history. And to make matters worse, this record breaking game was played at the Nets home arena in East Rutherford, NJ.

Sure morale has been low as the loss tally keeps adding up, and sure the interim coaching by Tom Barrise has not helped, but c'mon guys! New Jersey needs you! It seems the North East teams have hit a rough patch this season, as the Knicks, Nets, and Sixers claim the bottom 3 slots of the Eastern Conference.

But, there is a glimmer of hope for these teams, and that involves fresh additions. Everyone is counting on Allen Iverson to lead the 76ers to more victories, and Nets fans are hoping for the same as General Manager, Kiki Vandeweghe, begins his role as head coach today.

Could Vandeweghe be what the Nets need to win at least one game? Let us know at http://bit.ly/4EOSA3

Just When Iverson Thought He Was Out, They Pulled Him Back In

2009-12-02T10:40:00.007-05:00

Well folks it's official, Allen Iverson is a Sixers once again. His short-lived run at Denver, shorter time at Detroit, and even shorter stint at Memphis, has put Iverson back where he belongs, and back with a team that desperately needs him. Since his departure from Philadelphia in 2006, the team has, how do we say this nicely, slumped? They have the 4th worst NBA record this season, have gone through 3 different head coaches, 2 General Managers, and as a result, no one wants to come to their games!

But, things could change now that Iverson is on board once again. In his past run with the Sixers, he was awarded Rookie of the Year in his 2006-2007 season, named NBA MVP in 2001, and was the overall leader in scoring 4 times. Iverson jumps right into things Monday night, as the Sixers are set to play the Denver Nuggets, and will take over as starting guard, for recently injured Lou Williams. Fingers crossed Philadelphia!!

Derek Jeter is 2009 Sportsman of the Year!

2009-11-30T10:51:00.005-05:00

Sports Illustrated revealed their selection of the 2009 Sportsman of the Year, and the honor goes to Derek Jeter of the NY Yankees. As captain, Jeter set quite the example for his fellow teammates this season. He won his 4th Gold Glove award, broke Lou Gehrig's record for hits, earned the Hank Aaron award for having the most hits in the American League, and received the Roberto Clemente Award for his outstanding contributions on and off the field. Jeter's foundation, Turn 2, has provided organizations with the necessary means to keep children off the street and away from drugs and alcohol.

And the complimentary list goes on and on. Jeter's cover shot, and article, will be featured in the December 7th issue of Sports Illustrated magazine, praising him with the honor of the only Bronx Bomber to earn this title. Jeter will now be archived with other great Sportsman of the Year winners such as Michael Jordan (1991), Tiger Woods (1996, 2000), Wayne Gretzky (1982), and last year's recipient, and Olympic record setter, Michael Phelps.

I'll Take Some Gravy On The Side of My FOOTBALL!!

2009-11-25T10:11:00.009-05:00

MmMm tomorrow is Thanksgiving and among the wonderful meaning of the holiday, and the great food, we know you're thinking of one thing and one thing only....FOOTBALL! Thanksgiving football is a highly anticipated event, with back-to-back-to-back games all day long! And as tradition will allow, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will be playing in their regularly scheduled slots. Detroit will face the Green Bay Packers in the early afternoon followed by Oakland at Cowboys Stadium at 4:30 p.m. The Giants will also be playing at Denver later on in the evening. In addition, college football will make its mark this Thanksgiving with Texas playing at Texas A&M at 8 p.m.

Pace yourselves folks, tomorrow's marathon is sure to make any football lover all the more thankful!

Rivalry plays out last night in Houston

2009-11-24T10:23:00.005-05:00

In a packed stadium last night in Houston, the Tennessee Titans battled it out with the Houston Texans, for victory, and pride. This rivalry between the former Houston team and the current one is starting to heat up, both on and off the field. The last meeting in September was a memorable one that left two Houston and one Tennessee player fined for their fight on the field, and if you watched last night's game, it seemed as if the tension continued.

Ah, but the tables have turned, as the Titans picked up their 4th straight win last night after Rob Bironas made the 53-yard field goal to bring them to a 20-17 victory. With 1 second remaining, the Texans had a chance to tie, but for the second game in a row, kicker Kris Brown missed the field goal that would send Houston into overtime. The loss puts Houston at a 5-5 record, while Tennessee seems to be picking up pace, with a 4-6 record.

The Titans are set to play the Cardinals home on Sunday as the Texans will take on the Colts at home Sunday as well.

Syracuse wins 2009 2K Sports Classic Tournament

2009-11-23T11:31:00.008-05:00

Madison Square Garden hosted the final round of the 2009 2K Sports Classic tournament this past weekend. In the championship match-up, Syracuse beat North Carolina 87-71. Recent transfer, and tournament MVP, Wesley Johnson, took the spotlight scoring 25 of the teams 87 points and led the team with 8 rebounds. This win put Syracuse back on the map after much criticism over their pre-season loss to Division II Le Moyne.

The tournament, benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer was co-sponsored by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer research.

France Gets "Handed" the Win

2009-11-19T10:32:00.006-05:00

The final qualifying games last night for the 2010 World Cup brought victory for some teams, and controversy for another. After an intense battle, the score remained 1-1 as France and Ireland competed in overtime, for the chance to play this summer in South Africa. As the game looked like it was progressing to end in penalty kicks, a long pass was sent to Thierry Henry who stopped the ball with his left hand, then tapped it over to William Gallas for the game-winning header.

Needless to say, Ireland fans, players, and coaches were baffled when no penalty was called against France for the handball. Unlike other professional sports, soccer does not allow the use of video replay, and must rely on referees to see what is happening at all time. This rule was unfortunate for Ireland who, as a result, will not advance to next year's tournament.

In interviews following the game, Henry admitted to the handball, but claimed it was the fault of the referees for not making the call. Should they have listened to Ireland's plea and dismissed the goal? Should video equipment be introduced into the game? Let us know what you think.

High School Soccer Keeps Kickin'

2009-11-18T11:06:00.006-05:00

It's the final week of the NJSIAA High School Soccer Tournament and games are intense! The semi-finals took place last night all across New Jersey as the Top 4 teams from each Group battled it out for a spot in the Championship. The team's endured round after round of intense struggle to make it this far, and will compete as the tournament comes to a close this weekend. Let's take it Group by Group:

Group 4: Clifton will take on Toms River South in the Group 4 Championship final. Clifton beat No. 11 Ridge last night, 1-0, in double overtime. Toms River South defeated Toms River North 4-3, also in overtime.

Group 3: Millburn, No. 5, will play Princeton (No. 12) for the Championship this Friday, Nov. 20 at The College of New Jersey. Millburn beat Montville after an intense battle going into double overtime, and finally ending the game 3-2 in the final shootout. Princeton was victorious over Moorestown 1-0 last night.

Group 2: Cliffside Park (No. 4) will face No. 9 Delran this Saturday for the final round of the tournament. Cliffside Park defeated Ramsey 1-0 to advance, while Delran beat West Deptford with the same score.

Group 1: Dayton will meet Palmyra Saturday at 4 p.m. in Hillsborough for the championship game. Dayton beat No. 20 ranked Wallington 2-1 in last night's game. After ending the game in penalty kicks, Palmyra defeated Metuchen 1-0.

Congratulations to all the teams that made it to their Group's State Final!! Check back next week to see who the champs are!

**All rankings are based on the The Star-Ledger Top 20**

24-Hour Basketball Overload!!

2009-11-17T10:29:00.006-05:00

And we thought March Madness was crazy! For the second year in a row, ESPN is hosting a "College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon," which shows 24 hours of college basketball. Featured during the 24-hours will be 12 consecutive men's games on ESPN in addition to 2 women's games displayed across other ESPN channels.

As for the main event, tonight's game to watch: Memphis vs. Kansas at 10 p.m. The two teams have not reunited since last year's National Championship game, when Kansas prevailed with much thanks to Mario Chalmers' game tieing 3-pointer. "The Shot" as it has become referred to allowed the Jayhawks to clinch the title in overtime with a score of 75-68.

So keep refilling those coffee cups and checking the scores, today's games are sure to help push you through the day!

Lebron James to retire #23?

2009-11-16T10:19:00.004-05:00

One of the highest regards in sports is to have your number retired, not just by your team, but by the association. In the vast years, and the thousands of players, only a lucky few have been graced with this honor.

This subject was recently under discussion after Thursday night's Cavaliers-Heat game. LeBron James blurted the idea during an interview, not to honor himself, but to honor and respect a former NBA superstar, Michael Jordan. LeBron has been sporting #23, the number most associated with Jordan, and decided the number should go into retirement for good. And what does this mean for other players with the #23? Well, James suggests everyone choose a different number. In order for the removal of the #23 from NBA jerseys, James would have to file a petition and get the signatures of NBA players and executives.

Number retirement has occurred in other sports, but in a more traditional fashion. In Major League Baseball (MLB), the first and only player whose number has been retired by the league has been Jackie Robinson. Robinson, the first baseball player to break the racial barriers, sported the Brooklyn Dodger's uniform #42, which was retired on April 15, 1997.

Three years later in 2000, the National Hockey League (NHL), paid homage to the great Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky's number, 99, became the only retired number by the NHL.

Could #23, in honor of Michael Jordan, be next? After the years of wearing the same number, why has LeBron James had a change of heart? Don't players make an identity for themselves by their jersey number? Let us know your thoughts and why you choose YOUR team number. http://bit.ly/iIvRO

Bulls (Not So) Buzzer Beater

2009-11-11T13:17:00.007-05:00

Who doesn't love the roller coaster of basketball? A good game will be full of exhilarating highs, and disappointing lows. Last night's Nuggets-Bulls game was the epitome of this.

Down by 2 and with 10 seconds on the clock, Chicago's Derrick Rose made 2 free throws, to bring the game to a tie. Denver's Chauncey Billups was then fouled. Billups made the first free throw and missed the second to take a 90-89 lead. With three-tenths of a second remaining on the clock, and just as Bulls' fans were ready to go home, Brad Miller inbounded the ball and made the game-winning shot!

Or so they thought.

After taking ample time to review, the shot was overruled by the referees. According to them, and video replay, the ball was not off of Miller's fingers before the final buzzer. And just as easily as their spirits were up, Bulls fans left the United Center feeling nothing but sheer disappointment last night.

College Basketball Tips Off

2009-11-10T11:37:00.006-05:00

Last night launched the 2009-2010 NCAA College Basketball season. Victorious in the first games included North Carolina over Florida International, Ohio State over Alcorn State, California over Murray State, and Syracuse over Albany.

Syracuse's win last night led the team's coach, Jim Boeheim, to his 800th career victory. Boeheim now becomes the 8th Division I coach to reach this milestone. The team's victory was also important for morale, as they lost their top 3 scorers after last season.

Wednesday night brings the next set of games, but the real excitement begins this weekend; as a combined 245 games are set to take place. Get your game faces on, and your TiVo's ready, college basketball is officially here!

Cal football can hope for the Best

2009-11-09T10:58:00.007-05:00

Cal fans held their breath Saturday night as Jahvid Best was wheeled off of the field on a stretcher. After jumping into the end zone for a touchdown, Jahvid fell onto his neck/back, launching his helmet off, and knocking him unconscious. Medics rushed to his side as teammates took a knee and watched this Heisman Trophy contender lay motionless.

Sunday morning broke better news that Best had suffered a concussion, his second in 2 weeks, and remarkably no other injuries. With their all-star running back out this week, the Golden Bears still have to face upcoming games against Arizona, Stanford, and Washington. The teams temporary loss of Best and a record of 6-3, 3-3 in the Pac-10, puts on an additional pressure to come out with a winning season, and possibly a bowl game.

SIX-CESS for the YANKS!!

2009-11-05T10:10:00.004-05:00

Drumroll please...your 2009 World Series Champions are the New York Yankees! It seems like Joe Girardi can breathe a little easier today knowing his decision to start Pettitte last night, after only 3 days rest, worked out much better than Burnett's start on Monday. After two years of managing the team, Girardi was able to successfully bring the Yanks to a championship, a feat the former Manager Joe (Torre) hasn't done since 2000.

If you witnessed last night's game, I'm sure you would agree with this series chosen MVP, Hideki Matsui. Matsui's 2-run homer in the 2nd, followed by a 2-RBI single in the 3rd, in addition to a 2-RBI double in the 5th, earned him the MVP title as well as tying a World Series record with 6 RBIs.

This 27th World Series title was even more precious for the Yankees as they were able to celebrate the victory in their brand new stadium. The packed house, with over 50, 000 fans, knew this was the moment the team had been waiting for, craving for, since their last victory at home in 1999.

The festivities kick off tomorrow afternoon as the celebratory ticker-tape parade hits the NYC streets. As this marks the official end of the 2009 baseball season, fret not fans, less than 4 months until spring training begins!!

Don't Blow It Joe!

2009-11-04T11:18:00.003-05:00

For the second game in a row, Joe Girardi has chosen to use his starting pitcher after only 3 days rest. Lets hope this idea works out better for you tonight, Joe. With the winning game on the line, is this a smart move for the Yankees Manager? A.J Burnett's pull on Monday night, after only 2 plus innings, is evidence enough to make Yankees' fans apprehensive.

See how it all plays out tonight, Game 6, at 7:45. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the game's analysis and highlights!!

Off to the Bronx We Go!

2009-11-03T10:23:00.003-05:00

What sparked the Phillies' bats last night? Could it have been the do or die stakes? The loud roar of tens of thousands of Phillies Phans? The final home game at Citizens Bank Park for the season? Whatever the motivation, last night's Philadelphia victory was exactly what the team needed to keep this series alive. Chase Utley's 3-run homer in the bottom of the first definitely pumped some adrenaline into the Phillies' bloodstream, but he didn't stop there. Utley again homered in the 7th allowing the team to take an 8-2 lead.

Just as you thought the game was over, the Yanks started creeping back in the top of the 8th. A-Rod's 2 RBI double, and score off of Cano's sac. fly, brought the Yankees from behind to a 3-run game.

In the end, the Phillies were able to take Game 5, pushing the Series to yet another game, and breaking the 5-year streak of Series ending in sweeps, or 5 games. Can the Phillies hold on to this comeback as they enter Yankee territory? Tell us what you think at http://bit.ly/4qoaKM.

Hit by a Pitch, the 2009 World Series Good Luck Charm?

2009-11-02T10:44:00.006-05:00

For the second game in a row, Yankees third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, has become the new strikezone for Phillies pitchers. Rodriguez, hit in the first inning last night, has tied the World Series record for the most times hit, 3.

Then, in the top of the 9th, Phillies pitcher Brad Lidge, hit Mark Texiera, putting him on first and bringing A-Rod up to the plate. What happened next could be read as an "it's about time" or a "who has the last laugh now" game winning double.

Whichever way you read it, stay tuned for Game 5 tonight as the teams battle it out in Philly.

2010 TAKKLE Primetime Episode 7, Who's The Top QB Prospect?

2009-10-30T17:12:00.005-04:00

This week's episode of the TAKKLE Primetime Series highlights the top High School quaterbacks in the country. Coaches, Taylor and Chmiel, reveal their top 5 selections including Connor Wood of Second Baptist High School in Texas, and Jake Heaps of Skyline High School, Washington.

The coaches also give personal tips on college recruitment. Be sure to watch this week's episode to find out their secrets to success!!

Phillies End VictoriousLEE in Game 1

2009-10-29T10:21:00.014-04:00

Game 1 of the 2009 World Series was full of many firsts at Yankee Stadium. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, watched from the mound as the ceremonial first pitch marked the beginning of the series. Cliff Lee's World Series start earned him the record of 10 strikeouts, 0 earned runs, and no walks, a first in World Series history. Additionally, the Yankees lost at home for the first time this postseason as the Phillies clinched Game 1.

New York hosts Game 2 tonight, as Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez battles against Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett. Tonight's favorable weather conditions, as well as the demise of first game jitters, should make for a more compelling series battle, something fans on both ends have been anticipating.

2009-2010 Top 200 High School Football Players

2009-10-28T10:34:00.009-04:00

The 2009-2010 football season has reached its midway point, check out this year's Top 200 High School football players.

Think you deserve a spot on next year's Top 200 list? Create a TAKKLE profile and fill out your free RecruitMe sheet.

Updated 2009-2010 HS Football Team Rankings

2009-10-20T14:48:00.000-04:00

Be sure to check out our updated 2009-2010 Top 200 Football Player Rankings on TAKKLE!

Ronald Powell, the defensive end from Rancho Verde HS, Texas is ranked 1st overall. He is also featured in the latest TAKKLE Primetime Episode.

Here's the link:

Give it a look here

TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 6 now out!

2009-10-20T11:56:00.006-04:00

TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 6 is now up on YouTube. In it, Coach and coach discuss who the best defensive end is in the country.

Among the candidates:

Ronald Powell, Rancho Verde HS, CA.

Reggie Wilson, Haltom HS, Texas

Gabe King, Page HS, NC

Corey Lemonier, Hialeah HS, FL

Garrison Smith, Douglass HS, GA

William Gholston, Southeastern HS, MI

The coaches then discuss the role parents and high school coaches in the recruiting process.

Check it out here!

MLB teams woo 18-year-old Japanese pitcher

2009-10-15T12:41:00.000-04:00

We all know that Bryce Harper is supposed to be the next great baseball player from the United States, but how many people have heard of Yusei Kikuchi?

The Japanese phenom is only 18 years old, but already is scheduled to meet with the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants on Monday, the Nikkan Sports newspaper reports. The Yankees, Mets, and Seattle Mariners are scheduled to meet with him on Tuesday.

Read about it here

Blog Action Day 2009

2009-10-15T10:53:00.003-04:00

So, we talk about sports here most everyday at Takkle but there are in fact more important things going on the world (shocking, we know). Climate change would certainly qualify as one of them. Today is Blog Action Day 2009 and topic is just that: climate change.

For more info on how you can get involved check out http://www.blogactionday.org/

Tim Tebow leads first Heisman Watch

2009-10-14T15:45:00.000-04:00

Tim Tebow, everyone's favorite college football star, is the leader in USA Today's Heisman watch, which was released today. Tebow is 16 points ahead of Texas QB Colt McCoy.

Here is the full article

A Yankees blueprint for success against the Angels

2009-10-14T13:54:00.000-04:00

The NY Daily News previews the ALCS by showing five ways that the Yankees can beat the Angels in the series, which begins on Friday.

Check it out

Interesting tradition at Delbarton HS in New Jersey

2009-10-14T12:28:00.001-04:00

The Newark Star-Ledger has been doing a series on favorite high school sports traditions throughout the state of New Jersey. The latest one is from Delbarton HS in New Jersey and is called simply "The Braveheart." What is it?

Click here to find out

A Cleveland HS has a chance for history

2009-10-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

St. Ignatius, a HS in northern Ohio, has always excelled in sports. However, this year they have a chance of exceeding even their own expectations.

Their cross country, football and soccer teams are ranked No. 1 in the state, meaning that the school has a chance to win an unprecedented FOUR state titles in the fall season alone. That is domination.

Read about it here

Is Cheerleading a sport?

2009-10-13T12:39:00.001-04:00

Regardless of your answer to the above question, cheerleading is more dangerous than you imagine. The LA Times reports on one cautionary tale and says that high school cheerleading is getting out of control due to the lack of supervision while performing dangerous stunts.

Read the full article here

Updated 2009-2010 HS Football Team Rankings

2009-10-13T10:45:00.001-04:00

Be sure to check out our updated 2009-2010 Top 200 Football Player Rankings on TAKKLE!

Ronald Powell, the defensive end from Rancho Verde HS, Texas is ranked 1st overall.

Here's the link:

http://bit.ly/jlLbg

NFL Week 5 Preview

2009-10-09T14:21:00.000-04:00

The Sporting News has a good NFL Week 5 Preview, complete with predictions for every game.

Give it a look

Takkle Primetime 2010 Episode 5 is up!

2009-10-08T15:43:00.002-04:00

TAKKLE Primetime Episode 5 is now up! In it we discuss who is the best Defensive Back in America?

Safety Sean Parker from Narbonne HS, CA

Corner Back Lemarcus Joyner from Saint Thomas Aquinas, FL

Cornerback Cullen Christian, Penn Hills HS, Pa.

Safety Jonathan Dowling, Southeast HS, FL

Safety Ahmad Dixon Midway HS, TX

Coach Chmiel and Taylor break down the best, and then explain how recruits build relationships with College Coaches.

Check it out here!

Sporting News names Pittsburgh Best Sports City

2009-10-08T15:17:00.000-04:00

The Sporting News recently named Pittsburgh the best sports city in the US. Probably doesn't hurt when both Penguins win the Stanley Cup and the Steelers win the Super Bowl.

Check out the full list here

Oklahoma HS Football coach in trouble

2009-10-08T13:59:00.000-04:00

An Oklahoma HS Football coach is in trouble because he allegedly falsified addresses so that players who lived in a different school district could play on his team.

Check it out here

A NJ field hockey team has a winning tradition

2009-10-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

For 20 years, field hockey players at Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch have put ribbons in their hair before they play. The results speak for themselves: 726 wins and 10 state championships.

Check it out here

NYT article on NBA players going back to college

2009-10-06T13:20:00.001-04:00

A great article from the New York Times on how NBA players are going back to college to finish their degrees. With the recent rule change that players must be 19 at least one year removed from high school, many of the game's young superstars only have a year of college under their belt but want to finish college.

Check out the full article here

Updated 2009-2010 HS Football Team Rankings

2009-10-06T11:11:00.004-04:00

Another NFL Week 4 Preview

2009-10-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

We already posted our best and worst games of the upcoming Week 4 in the NFL. In case you want a more "professional" preview, here is one from NFL.com:

Week 4 Preview

Documentary on Lebron James opens today

2009-10-02T10:43:00.000-04:00

The documentary "More Than a Game", which chronicles LeBron James and his high school teammates' journey, opens in theaters today.

Read one review of the movie here:

http://bit.ly/2RjRIU

Marcus Lattimore invited to 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl

2009-10-01T15:47:00.000-04:00

Marcus Lattimore, one of the featured running backs on Takkle Primetime 2010 Episode 3 was recently invited to the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Check it out:

Check it out here

Interesting story on Army and Air Force QBs

2009-10-01T14:31:00.000-04:00

Ricky Dobbs and Tim Jefferson are the starting QBs for Army and Air Force respectively. They grew up as rivals in high schools in the Atlanta area, with Dobbs' teams beating Jefferson's in both football and basketball. They face off this week in Annapolis in another rivalry game.

Read the full article here

TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 4 is up!

2009-10-01T13:16:00.002-04:00

TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 4 is now LIVE on Youtube and Takkle.com. In it we discuss: Who is the Nation's top Linebacker?

Jeff Luc, Treasure Coast HS, Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Matt Elam, Dwyer HS, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Nick Forbes, Thomas Johnson HS, Fredrick, Maryland

CJ Mosley, Theodore HS, Theodore, Alabama

Then we teach athletes how THEY can reach out to college coaches.

Click here to check it out

NFL Week 4 Preview

2009-09-30T16:45:00.003-04:00

It's never too early to look ahead to next Sunday and that's what we're doing on Wednesday afternoon here at Takkle. We wanted to give you a preview of some of the weekend's best and worst match-ups. Here it goes:

BEST:
Ravens @ Patriots (1PM): This may be the best match-up of the weekend. The Ravens have looked scary good in their first three games, beating the Chargers in San Diego and handily defeating the lowly Browns and Chiefs. What's frightening for other AFC teams is that the Ravens now seem to have an offense (averaging 34 pts/gm) to go along with their always-stellar defense. The Pats are coming off their best win of the season over the Atlanta Falcons, but still have not looked like a championship contender.

This game will determine the early front-runner for home-field advantage in the AFC.

Packers @ Vikings (MNF): Brett Favre is a Viking. He was an idol in Green Bay for 16 years and led them to a Super Bowl victory. This one will have hype all week long and deservedly so. Besides the entire Favre subplot, the game features two of the best teams in the NFC and the winner will have the early advantage in a tough NFC North.

Jets @ Saints (4PM): If someone had said that the New York Jets would be 3-0 this season, beating the Patriots, Texans, and Titans along the way, I would have a very difficult time believing them. But this is a classic great offense vs. great defense game. The Saints running attack came alive last week in a 27-7 victory at Buffalo and we already know how good their passing game is.

The Jets' defense has been revitalized under Rex Ryan and the team is playing with confidence. However, this is going to be a tough game for the Jets going into New Orleans.

Chargers @ Steelers (8:30PM): The Sunday Night game is also a great one. LT is questionable for the game but even if he is in, this is a tough match-up for the Chargers. The Steelers are angry, knowing that they should have beaten the Bears and the Bengals the last two weeks.

Instead, they sit at 1-2 and are in danger of falling out of the playoff picture. They do play the Lions and Browns the next weeks (i.e. two easy wins), but this is a statement game for the team. Expect the Chargers to put up a good fight, but the Steelers to pull it out in the end.

WORST
Bills @ Dolphins (4PM): The Bills played well against the Saints, but fell apart in the 4th quarter. That is becoming a theme, as they should be 2-1 if not for that meltdown in New England on Monday Night Football Week 1.

The Dolphins are more of a mess, having lost Chad Pennington for the season. Chad Henne will probably start, but he didn't look good last week. Let's just put it this way: any time that you are signing Tyler Thigpen, your QB situation is in trouble.

Raiders @ Texans (1PM): The Texans can not stop anyone on the ground; with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and Steve Slaton their offense is great. Once again, they are one of the most puzzling teams in the NFL, looking fantastic in a comeback win against the Titans, horrific against the Jets, and losing at home to a previously winless Jaguars team.

The Raiders are just plain bad. JaMarcus Russell has 378 yards passing in three games and his accuracy may have gotten worse. Raider fans should cherish that win against the Chiefs. It my be the only one they get this season.

Buccaneers @ Redskins (1PM): Someone had to end the Lions losing streak and why not the Redskins? After a pathetic 9-7 win over a hapless Rams team, the Redskins again couldn't score from the 1-yard line on 4th down and overall just played without inspiration. Jim Zorn could be gone if they lose this game.

The Bucs were not supposed to be very good. We didn't think they would be this bad. They had five first-downs against the Giants on Sunday. Five. Most NFL teams have that on one drive. The Bucs are switching to Josh Johnson at QB, but it probably won't make much difference.

Anyway, some good games to watch on Sunday and a huge one on Monday night. Look for our recap on Tuesday.

List of Top 25 Recruits

2009-09-30T14:36:00.000-04:00

Cool article by Sporting News, listing what they believe are the Top 25 Recruits in the Class of 2010, many of which have been featured in our TAKKLE Primetime Videos.

Check it out

Some good news on Stafon Johnson

2009-09-30T13:18:00.000-04:00

There is some good news regarding Stafon Johnson. If you haven't heard already, Johnson was injured in a freak bench press accident earlier this week and had to undergo seven hours of reconstructive surgery.

He is awake though and has been able to use non-verbal communication (thumbs-up to his mom and writing), to indicate that he is doing well. Doctors are hopeful that he can make a full recovery.

Read the story here

Seattle HS Sports Blog

2009-09-30T11:22:00.000-04:00

Another blog for your perusing pleasure. Since we will be having a Blog Contest on Takkle.com soon (details to come soon), we wanted to introduce you to some of our favorites and see what you thought of them.

This one is a general High School Sports Blog that covers the Seattle area

Enjoy

Tim Tebow's concussion on Sat was his first

2009-09-30T10:15:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen the hit, check it out on YouTube. Tim Tebow was taken to the hospital on Saturday after that hit and apparently suffered a concussion, the first of his career.

Check out the article here

Luckily for the Gators, they are off this week and don't play again until Oct. 10th, when they take on LSU.

Chances are that Tebow's good to go for that one.

Another good HS Sports blog

2009-09-29T17:04:00.000-04:00

Thought everyone might want to know about another great HS sports blog, this one focusing on the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Check it out:

HS Game Time

A great blog on Georgia HS Sports

2009-09-29T15:34:00.001-04:00

If High School sports in the state of Georgia is your thing, then you'll definitely want to check out this blog:

Prep Zone

6' 6" Jen Hamson has a bright future

2009-09-29T13:48:00.000-04:00

Jen Hamson used to love gymnastics. Then she grew so tall that she hit hit head on the ceiling during routines. She now is considering playing both volleyball and basketball in college. Check out the interesting article here:

http://bit.ly/cUqpW

Documentary on Lebron James opens Friday

2009-09-29T11:47:00.000-04:00

The documentary "More Than a Game", which chronicles LeBron James and his high school teammates' journey, opens in theaters on friday.

Read one review of the movie here:

http://bit.ly/2RjRIU

Updated 2009-2010 HS Football Team Rankings

2009-09-29T10:42:00.005-04:00

Be sure to check out our updated 2009-2010 Top 200 Football Player Rankings on TAKKLE!
Seantrel Henderson, the offensive lineman featured in TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 1, is ranked 2nd overall.

Here's the link:

http://bit.ly/jlLbg

Update on Bryce Harper

2009-09-25T10:11:00.002-04:00

Bryce Harper could be the next big thing in Major League Baseball. Before he enters the draft, though, he continues to put up monster numbers. Last year, Harper was tournament MVP at the COPABE "AA" Pan American Youth Championships.

Recently, he was named to the USA's 20-player roster for the COPABE Pan Am "AAA" (18U) Championships to be played in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Check out the story here

ESPN The Magazine article on Tebow

2009-09-24T17:34:00.002-04:00

Tim Tebow has been a star at Florida. He was recently on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

Here is the story:

Kenny Mayne Interviews Tim Tebow

TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 4 now out!

2009-09-24T15:56:00.003-04:00

Sportsmanship in High School Sports

2009-09-24T14:09:00.001-04:00

Great article from Bleacher Report today questioning whether teams that run up the score in HS sports are being unsportsmanlike. Give it a read:

http://bit.ly/1R8eP4

Washington Post: more kids playing HS sports

2009-09-24T10:24:00.003-04:00

A good article from the Washington Post, indicating that a study by the National Federation of State High School Associations shows that more kids are playing high school sports. Here's the link:

http://bit.ly/2cGmbW

TAKKLE Primetime 2010 Episode 3 is up!

2009-09-23T16:36:00.000-04:00

Check it out here:

The coaches debate, who is the best running back in America?

Among those discussed:

DJ Morgan, Taft HS, Woodland Hills, California

Roderick Smith, Paul Harding HS, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Mack Brown, Martin Luther King HS, Lithonia, Georgia

Lache Seastrunk, Temple HS, Temple, Texas

Marcus Lattimore, James Byrnes HS, Duncan, South Carolina

They then discuss the important question: when does recruiting REALLY begin?

Marcus Lattimore named U.S. Army All-American Bowl player of the week

2009-09-23T15:20:00.000-04:00

Marcus Lattimore, on of the featured running backs on the latest episode of Takkle Primetime 2010 was recently named the U.S. Army All-American Bowl player of the week. Check it out:

http://www.tarheeltimes.com/article20442.aspx

An odd reason to postpone HS football games

2009-09-23T14:01:00.000-04:00

The Apponequet Regional High School football team made a decision to switch their game from the Friday night lights to the sun of Saturday afternoon this weekend in an attempt to spare athletes and spectators from mosquito bites. The switch was made after mosquitoes in the area were found to be infected with the EEE virus.

Click below for the full story:

http://bit.ly/Q35q1

Chicago areas recruits

2009-09-23T12:53:00.001-04:00

A comprehensive list of where Chicago area recruits have committed for the 2010-2011 school year:

http://bit.ly/2OZy4d