Top Destinations For Lebron James

With the breaking news that LeBron James has decided to opt out of his Cavaliers contract to become a free agent next season, all the speculations on James’ eventual departure from Cleveland have more or less been proven true. Of course, James can still decide to stay put and sign a new contract. But this option is becoming more unlikely by the minute, especially with many analysts insisting that James is at odds with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

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LeBron has been quoted as saying that his decision will depend mainly on his talks with his family. But if King James does leave, the prime destination team is the Los Angeles Lakers. This is because the Lakers have the best salary cap space to accommodate LeBron. Also, the possibility of teaming up with his friend Paul George is there, also bolstered by the existing cap space. The Lakers are likewise very keen on trading for Kawhi Leonard to better woo James.

The Philadelphia 76ers is the next best destination option, as aside from also having the salary space to grant LeBron a multi-million-dollar contract, the Sixers boasts of the dynamic tandem of Embiid and Simmons to help James get another championship ring soonest.

Boston is likewise a sound choice if LeBron is out to add another title to his resume quickly. However, an Irving-James reunion might prove difficult since Kyrie has explicitly stated that he left Cleveland to be the leader of his own team. But don’t count out Danny Ainge from pulling off a hat trick, as he could work a trade for Kyrie and the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard.

Other plausible options are Houston and, well, Golden State. But the chances of James leaving for these teams are slim and won’t really look good as far as James’ legacy is concerned. No one wants existing superteams to be even more overpowered.

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Bob Mims CPA is a former basketball coach and now a sports and fitness aficionado. He values the importance of maintaining health through constant physical activity. A few of his favorite fitness routines include yoga, swimming, and the P90X. Know more about Bob on this website.

The Best Basketball Players In Ole Miss History

Over the course of the history of Ole Miss’s basketball program, many players had taken their talents to Oxford, MI. Some of the most notable ones are discussed below:

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Johnny Neumann

The player affectionately called “Johnny Reb” played just two seasons for the Rebels. He became known as the first player in basketball history to take advantage of a hardship clause, a now-defunct rule that allowed a professional team to sign a college player even before the expiration of his college eligibility due to financial difficulties.

Neumann, though, made a mark in Ole Miss history during his short-lived collegiate career. He is the only Rebel to lead the nation in scoring during a season when he posted an average of 40.1 points per game in 1971.

Elston Turner

Ole Miss has rarely reached the NCAA Tournament – just eight time to be exact. The first time it ever did so was back in 1981 when Elston Turner led the team in scoring and rebounding. His great feel for the game has resulted in him being a sought-after assistant coach in the National Basketball Association since 1996.

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Rahim Lockhart

The Rebels have reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament only once – in 2001. The exciting run during that season, which included 27 wins and a final national ranking of number 9 (both school records), was led by All-American Rahim Lockhart.

Bob Mims, CPA, is a huge fan of the Ole Miss sports teams, which are discussed more on this blog.

Can Yoga Help Swimmers Improve?

Olympic swimmers, including American gold medalist Natalie Coughlin, attest to the many benefits of yoga. The following are the performance improvements provided by yoga:

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Flexibility 

One of the most common reasons swimmers practice yoga is to improve their flexibility. The strokes and the leg kicks take their heavy toll on the shoulder and the lower limb. With yoga, the range of motion of joints can be increased, easing the burden the movements cause on these body parts. Yoga can also lengthen muscle tissues and release muscular tension, giving them greater integrity and strength. 

Body awareness 

Swimming requires a high level of body awareness, with every movement pattern, from the maintenance of the body line to the entry of the fingers in the water during strokes, being critical in swimming speed. Yoga helps athletes develop technical proficiency in this aspect. 

Recovery

Swimming is one of the most taxing sports; an hour or two of hard practice can result in tightness and stiffness of muscles or aches in joints. Yoga, particularly restorative yoga, can allow the body to recover more quickly than usual. 

Mental strength

This sport is as mentally challenging as it is physically. Psychological stability may mean gaining or losing seconds in the pool; and in a race, every second counts. By practicing yoga regularly, one gains the ability to regulate his or her emotions, reduce anxiety, and relax mentally.

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Bob Mims, CPA promotes the importance of staying healthy, and believes that one way of doing so is by regularly swimming. Follow this Twitter page  for more discussions on sports training.

Stay Fit For Life: Sports For Seniors

The most common problem seniors have when working out is that their bodies can sometimes no longer handle the stress.  The joints and muscles aren’t as sturdy as they used to be.  But this shouldn’t stop them from exercising.  Here are some of the best exercises for senior citizens that aren’t as high impact as the rest, but effective nonetheless.

Swimming

If everyone had a swimming pool to do laps in, what a wonderful world it would be.  Swimming is the perfect full-body exercise for many reasons.  This goes double for seniors.  The activity itself is low-impact, and the water aids in alleviating joint and body pains.  It’s good for the heart and lungs, which is essential for seniors.

Image source: seniorplanet.org

Golf

There are two fantastic things about golf.  First, it affords a person to walk long distances and get fresh air.  These are low-impact activities and are good for the lungs, heart, and easy on the joints.  Second, to play golf, one has to keep proper posture, which helps senior from hunching. 

Image source: ponokagolf.com 

Cycling/Spinning

It doesn’t matter whether you are cycling outdoors or attending a spinning class, getting on a bike and pedaling do have amazing health advantages.  Another low-impact exercise, cycling is great for muscle development and heart and lung health.  Although, many people still prefer doing it outdoors to get the most of fresh air.

Former basketball coach Bob Mims, CPA, is a firm believer in the importance of physical activity in long-term fitness. A few of his favorite fitness routines include yoga, swimming, and the P90X. For similar reads, click here.

P90X: How It Helps Golfers

A decade-and-a-half ago, the Power 90 Extreme, P90X, for short, was developed as a 90-day home exercise regimen that employs cross-training, systematic planning, and an appropriate nutrition program. The regimen helps people with varying reasons for working out, from weight loss to achieving peak-performance shape.

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Even golfers could benefit from P90X, whether they play casually or join amateur or professional competitions.

Arm and back strength:  The tone of a hole in golf is set by the drive, or the first shot right off the tee. Its distance is highly dependent on one’s arm and back strength, both of which can be improved with a few P90X tools.

Core strength:  Any golfer worth his salt knows that swing strength and control do not depend on merely arm strength, but also on the ability to twist the body while hitting the ball. P90X programs can build the core and improve the swing.

Leg strength:  Another important body part to target by golfers are the legs, as the lower limbs can give one better control and stability when swinging or putting. P90X can help sculpt the legs, providing golfers the necessary strength to play the sport.

Range of motion:  P90X is known for improving flexibility, which can aid golfers in capturing an increased range of motion while swinging.

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To learn more about the revolutionary P90X and its benefits for practitioners, follow this Twitter page for Bob Mims, CPA.

Coach Kerr in College: A Born Leader

Steve Kerr now holds the record of getting 250 wins in the NBA as a head coach in the shortest amount of time. While many people may argue that he has the best team in the league, before he came along, the Warriors were struggling. It was under his leadership and guidance that they became a championship-caliber team.

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Kerr’s experience as a leader goes back way before his stint under Gregg Popovich as part of the San Antonio Spurs, before his three championships with Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan, and the Chicago Bulls. Though he learned from his past mentors on how to guide a team, it was during his stint with the Arizona Wildcats from 1983 to 1988 where he fostered the leader mindset, bringing both motivation and inspiration to his college teammates.

While Kerr was primarily known for his accuracy from all distances on the floor, it was his demeanor as a point guard that won over his teammates and Wildcat fans all over. He was warm and friendly and still burned with a competitive flame. Kerr was a great sportsman who knew how to be diplomatic on and off the court.

Image source: theplayerstribune.com

Today, Kerr still leads the same way he did back then. Only now, he wears a coat and a tie.

Bob Mims is from Memphis, TN. One of his greatest passions in life is coaching kids in basketball. For more about Bob, visit this site.

What Coaches Can Learn From Watching “Coach Carter”

Ask most basketball coaches and even leadership experts, and they will all agree that “Coach Carter” is among their introductory or opening-day motivational films. There are great lessons not just about the sport, but in life in general that can be picked up from this much-loved flick. Here are some of them.

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One is the importance of showing players respect. Players will reciprocate respect if the coach is willing to give it. In the movie, coach Carter insisted on having every player in the team call one another “sir.” The players were initially uneasy with this, but they eventually came around and saw that this meant treating everyone on equal footing.

Secondly, being punctual is a key aspect of practice. Arriving on time for practice sessions is an important manifestation of passion for the game, discipline, and respect for both the coach and the team.

Another lesson is that teamwork means working as a unit. The struggle of one player is the struggle of all. In the film, a remorseful player desperately wanted to come back to the team and was instructed by coach Carter to do an impossible number of push-ups. His teammates stepped up to help him finish the task. A great team is one where the members can count on each other.

Finally, “Coach Carter” showed the value of education. Carter understood that his players were student-athletes and that the word “student” comes first. The film played up the importance of learning throughout the film, more than it did basketball and winning. Carter even initiated a lockdown of the school gym when he found out that his players weren’t meeting their grade requirements.

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Bob Mims, CPA, is a golfer, sports fan, and fitness enthusiast. A former basketball coach, he has been a sports enthusiast for most of his life. More sports and fitness reads here.