GENERAL SPORTS
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Details
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Superbowl
www.superbowl.com |
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Many Americans greet the highlight of their sporting
calendar, the Superbowl,
with an almost religious fervour and the popularity of this site is
testament
to that.
Predictably
glitzy in its presentation, this site focuses on both the coming
attraction
and the stars of Superbowl's past. The highlight is over an hour's
worth
of RealAudio footage, featuring all the tension, drama and suspense of
the
sport's history. There's also the chance to get involved and vote for
your
favourite Superbowl team of all time. |
Britball
www.britball.com |
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Despite a flurry of media interest in the mid-80s,
basketball has never taken off in this country as it has in the States.
However,
there are still thousands of loyal fans in this country, following
teams in the Dairylea National League. This site caters for them in
impressive style, with
acres of news, results, reports and analysis. Regular online polls and
a
reasonably well-populated message board make this the best place
anywhere to find out about the UK basketball scene. |
In the
Crease
www.inthecrease.com |
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Written by the fans for the fans, this site has a bit more
edge to it than the official ice hockey sites. Covering both the US and
Canada, it features the very latest results, comment and analysis - all
laid out in a very professional manner.
The writers
aren't afraid to down their gloves and trade a few punches, either,
with
their no-holds-barred writing style. |
Major
League Baseball
www.majorleaguebaseball.com |
|
| As this is an American site, it won't tell you how to
interpret the bizarre rules
of their national sport. For devotees, however, this site scores home
run
after home run. Daily video clips will deliver the latest news and
highlights to your desktop, provided your PC is up to it, while you'll
also find results, statistics and analysis galore. Then there's a
fantasy league competition that allows you to test your punditry skills
and a kids section that allows you to chat directly to your favourite
players. |
NBA
www.nba.com |
|
| The National Basketball Association has always been adept at
promoting the game and this website is ample proof. There's so much to
see on this site that it's hard to know where to start. After perusing
the latest news, you should head straight for the video clips which
feature the most stunning slam dunks from recent games. Then take the
time to digest the well written features, which dissect the game in
huge detail. And if you fancy a bit of the action yourself, you can
take part in a number of online fantasy games. |
NFL
www.nfl.com |
|
| Considering the razzmatazz normally associated with the
game, the official American
Football site is surprisingly free of needless glitz. What you will
find,
however, is the very latest news and previews together with a very
impressive
amount of multimedia footage. Previews of the action in each of the
weeks
games and even highlights of the best of recent action make this site
more
akin to an interactive television programme, provided you have the
necessary
plug ins. And, of course, there's also oodles of those statistics and
tables
for which Americans have a peculiar fondness. |
The A-Z Encyclopedia of Hockey
www.azhockey.com |
|
You'll find no gym slips or jolly hockey sticks here,
because this is an extremely comprehensive encyclopedia of ice hockey.
From the very first ice rink to modern ice-hockey heroes, there's a
huge amount of information on offer and it's all laid out in a logical
and interesting manner.
The site is
aimed more at avid aficionados of the game than casual fans, thanks to
the
incredible level of detail. |
Baseball
Stuff
www.baseballstuff.com |
|
A great example of a site run by a fan for the fans, this
site is nothing special to look at - but the care and dedication that
has gone into it is tangible. An ever-expanding collection of articles
and links, it's essentially a 'best-of' everything baseball-related on
the Web.
The real
heart of the site lies in the opinion columns and message boards, which
rage day and night with argument and conjecture. |
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Road Cycling
www.roadcycling.com |
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| Dedicated to the pursuit of speed, Road Cycling concentrates
on the serious racing
side of things. The major part of this nicely set out site is given
over
to the latest news and results, telling you who's wearing the yellow
jersey
in races all around the world. For the dedicated cyclist there's an in
depth
training guide and a series of routes to follow for folk of all fitness
levels. |
Sustrans
www.sustrans.co.uk |
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| Sustrans is a UK charity dedicated to linking shops,
workplaces and the countryside together with a National Cycle Network.
The proposed route will cover 8000 miles and this mainly text based
site explains exactly how the scheme will work. There are maps showing
current cycle routes in the UK and how they
will expand if everything goes to plan. The fund raising effort will
include
a massive sponsored cycle ride next year and you can apply for details
online. |
Tour de
France
www.letour.fr |
|
The most famous cycle race in the world may have been
tarnished in recent years by allegations of drug taking, but there's no
mention of such shenanigans on this well-produced official site.
What you
will find is a detailed look ahead to this year's race, including times
and places - which is good if you want to plan your holiday around Le
Tour.
There's
also a well-researched and written history of the race, although a
little more detail will have to be added before the site can claim the
yellow jersey. |
Bicycling
Magazine
www.bicyclingmagzine.com |
|
| This site, run by a US cycling magazine, is stylishly put
together and has a
couple of unique features that will help anyone who takes their cycling
seriously. The first is a bike finder that allows you to enter your
details, what you use your bike for and the mileage you cover and it
will come up with the perfect
model for you. The second is the training centre that offers an expert
training
regime that is customised to your own fitness and ability level. |
BikeZone
www.bikezone.com |
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| This great all-encompassing site should be your first stop
before shelling out on any cycling related kit. From helmets to
handlebars, you'll find them
all reviewed, compared and rated in the 'GearZone'. Most importantly,
all
of the reviews are expertly written in a bright and breezy style, so
reading them is a pleasure rather than a chore. You'll also find
absorbing articles and practical training and riding tips. |
Mountain
Bike
www.mountainbike.com |
|
An offshoot from a US mountain-biking magazine,
this sharp
site will tell you all you need to know about careering down a mountain
at
ridiculous speeds.
Some of you
may need a jargon buster to decipher the language used, but mountain
biking
enthusiasts will find much to interest them. Like MTB Review, the main
focus
is on product reviews, with over 20 products added to the database each
week. You'll also find tips on training, tactics and tuning your bike. |
MTB Review
www.mtbr.com |
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A hugely popular and supremely detailed site that is mainly
concerned with reviewing
bikes and equipment. There's an incredible 55,000 expert reviews
available
for your perusal, covering everything from chain sets to cycling
helmets.
Once you're
properly kitted out, take your pick from the thousands of trail reviews
on
offer - covering everywhere from Ambleside to the Andes, so you're sure
to
find something to suit your locality and stamina level. |
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Tenpin
Bowling
www.tenpinbowling.co.uk |
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An extremely popular sport in shopping malls up and down the
country, this stylish site introduces you to the world of strikes and
splits with some panache.
Guided
around the site by neat little animated icons, you use the online
directory to find your nearest rink and also take advantage of an
extensive collection of tips on improving your game. This brightly
coloured and easy-to-navigate site will
also appeal to children. |
Hockey
Training
www.fieldhockeytraining.com |
|
Still a popular sport in schools up and down the country,
hockey is a game of
brain and no little brawn. This US-based site will help budding players
and
coaches to improve their skills.
Every month
a new training schedule is added to the site with an accompanying
video,
concentrating on honing basic skills like passing and shooting.
There are
also interviews with big name players and extra tips for coaches. |
Paul's Archery website
www.paulsarcherywebsite.co.uk |
|
A homely little site devoted to the delights of emulating
Robin Hood with a bow and arrow. Archery today is a hi-tech sport,
however, and this site goes into some detail in explaining the kit and
technique you'll need to succeed.
The layout
can be a little confusing in places but the advice is all sound and
written in a friendly style. |
Snookernet
www.snookernet.com |
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The popularity of the game may have tailed off a little
since the halycon days of Dennis Taylor and co, but there are still
plenty of snooker loopy folks out there.
Whether
you're a fan, a player or both this site will keep you up to date with
the latest news, scores and results, while also providing a couple of
clever resources for players.
One is the
well-stocked online shop, which sells everything from tables to chalk,
and the other is a global snooker club directory. |
Sportlive
www.sportlive.net |
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Utilising content from The Express and Line One, this
all-round sports site is more than capable of satisfying all your
sporting news needs.
The
football section is particularly detailed, with the real draw being
some fine articles commenting on recent issues concerning the beautiful
game. Other sports aren't neglected, though, and they can all be
reached via the easy-to-use navigation system. You're also encouraged
to use the grass roots site builder to build a mini site for your own
local football team or rugby club. |
Sports.com
www.sports.com |
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Covering all of the world's sports in one place is a mammoth
task, but this site
is making a brave stab at doing just that. It's certainly
comprehensive,
with up-to-date coverage of the major sports from both sides of the
Atlantic.
Live scores
are clearly a speciality and if you want to keep a tab on the scores in
a
number of different sports at once, this is the place to come.
Ultimately,
though, the tone is a bit drab and it can't help spreading itself too
thinly. |
Clayshooting
www.clayshooting.co.uk |
|
A neatly-designed site that will tell you everything you
need to know about clay pigeon shooting. A well-written beginners guide
is a useful introduction for those wanting to take up the sport,
detailing the equipment you'll need and the skills to acquire.
There's
also plenty for more seasoned marksmen, including the 'Ask Angela'
section - a sort of agony aunt for the troubled shooter. The whole
thing is nicely designed and has a professional air, while remaining
friendly. |
Gone to
the Dogs
www.thedogs.co.uk |
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If your idea of a night at the dogs revolves around flat
caps and steaming cups of Bovril, maybe this excellently produced site
will make you take a fresh look at greyhound racing.
It combines
stylish design with reams of information. Directions and details of all
the
tracks in the country will tell you where and when to go, while the
beginners
guide to betting will put you in the know for when you get there.
There's
even a section on how to adopt a retired greyhound. |
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