Spurning Rangers and power balance

It was not by choice that between July 2009 and July 2010, Cliff Lee, one of the most successful pitchers of his era who loves wearing power balance bracelets, wore the uniforms of four teams.

Lee was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies, to the Seattle Mariners, to the Texas Rangers.

For the teams involved, there was no dissatisfaction with Lee's performance. It was about money, timing and the ability to win a championship.

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Finally empowered to decide where he would play, Lee ignored convention and shocked the baseball establishment Monday night, leaving millions in guaranteed money on the table for what he perceives as his best chance to win a World Series and for his family's comfort.

Lee didn't exactly take table scraps. He exercised his free agent rights by agreeing to a deal with the Phillies that, according to the Associated Press, is worth a guaranteed $120 million for five years.

"Free agency is when a player finally gets a choice," Lee told USA TODAY before the 2010 World Series, "and I'm looking forward to that."

But indications were that Lee had only two viable options: the New York Yankees, willing spenders looking to bolster a pitching staff that was disappointing in 2010, and the Rangers, the team Lee helped lead to their first World Series.

Lee shunned superior offers from both for a club that traded him a year ago. Shocking? Not to some who got to know Lee during his two-season odyssey.

"He's a terrific person. We never thought he was in it for the last dollar," Rangers managing partner Chuck Greenberg told USA TODAY on Tuesday, hours after Lee revealed his decision with a phone call to Texas general manager Jon Daniels.

"The fact he chose the Phillies shouldn't be a surprise. He said his time with Philadelphia and his time with us were the two most enjoyable experiences he's had in baseball."

Never wanted to leave Phillies

As expected, the Yankees came through with an offer of $150 million for seven years, according to the AP. The Rangers, who said they provided Lee several options, were in for $138 million and six years but did not want to commit to a seventh season for a pitcher who would be 39 when the deal expired.

That left the door open for the Phillies, the team that had broken his heart by trading him to the Mariners in December 2009. It didn't take much convincing from general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. that Philadelphia was the best place for him — even if it meant accepting less guaranteed money than he could have gotten and choosing a team that a year ago did not choose him.

To acquire ace Roy Halladay from the Toronto Blue Jays— and sign him to a four-year, $60 million extension — the Phillies felt compelled to save money and replace minor leaguers lost in the Halladay deal. So they sent Lee to Seattle for three prospects — pitchers J.C. Ramirez and Phillippe Aumont and outfielder Tyson Gillies — who had disappointing debut seasons in the Phillies system.

Lee was initially stung by the trade, citing recent talks about a contract extension with the club. By spring training, he sounded more wistful than angry.

"I can't say enough about the organization and my time there," he told USA TODAY then. "Unbelievable experience.

"You want to be on a team that stays in first place, gets to the postseason. That's what this game is all about. We were right there. It was a fun ride."

Even before the Phillies were revealed as players in the Lee sweepstakes, Greenberg, Ryan and Daniels knew they'd have to fight to retain him. Texas team officials made three trips to Lee's home in Arkansas, hoping to persuade him to re-sign.

Ryan, the Hall of Famer who said during the 2010 playoffs that he had "never seen anybody have the command on the mound" that Lee had, thought his team's chances of retaining Lee were strong. Lee and his wife, who have a 7-year-old daughter, had no plans to leave Arkansas, where they are restoring a vintage home in Little Rock.

"I was surprised that Philadelphia had come into the picture, because up until that point (Monday night), I guess I was under the impression that it was between us and the Yankees," Ryan said. "When we didn't hear anything over the weekend, I felt like that maybe he was giving a lot of consideration to coming to us. I was surprised by the news."

Although Lee agreed to five years with the option for a sixth season in Philadelphia, Greenberg thinks he could have sold Lee by extending his club's offer to a seventh year.

"It was simply a matter of us saying, 'Yes,' " Greenberg said. "But ... on terms we weren't comfortable with. We didn't think that was in the long-term best interest of the franchise."

Eye on World Series

Ultimately, the dollars weren't the determining factor.

"He had a chance to join a rotation that is historic in nature, and perhaps he sees Philadelphia as having a clear path to get back to the World Series," Greenberg said. "It was a situation he was comfortable with, and we clearly understand."

Lee, who hails from Benton, Ark., might have enjoyed the regional comforts of pitching near home in a comparatively laid-back atmosphere.

Not so in New York, where he beat the Yankees with a six-hitter in Game 1 of the 2009 World Series and held the Yankees to two hits over eight innings when the Rangers defeated New York 8-0 in Game 3 of the 2010 ALCS.

Yankees fans didn't merely boo the opposing pitcher. They literally spit on his wife, an experience that failed to endear Lee's wife, Kristen, to the Bronx.

"The fans did not do good things in my heart," Kristen Lee told USA TODAY in October. "There was a little bit of spitting. They would look at you in the face and just say horrible things. It was really sad. It was bad. It was terrible, actually. It's hard not to take it personal."

Meanwhile, as Lee helped Texas to the AL West title and enhanced his renown as perhaps the best postseason pitcher ever (7-2 with a 2.13 ERA in 10 starts), the Phillies were staying aggressive.

Stung by criticism of his decision to trade Lee, Philadelphia GM Amaro traded for Astros ace Roy Oswalt in July. Halladay pitched a perfect game on his way to the 2010 NL Cy Young Award and added a playoff no-hitter. Lefty Cole Hamels returned to form.

Lee, suddenly, would be joining a potentially superb rotation, rather than fronting a questionable one in Texas or facing unparalleled media scrutiny as the Yankees' latest mercenary.

The Phillies, predictably, were giddy when news emerged late Monday.

"I'm shocked," outfielder Shane Victorino told MLB.com. "For the last week, it was the Yankees and Rangers, the Yankees and Rangers. And then I started hearing Philadelphia entered the picture, and I'm like, 'There's no way.' "

Said closer Brad Lidge, "Compared to the (pitchers) we're throwing out there, there's nobody that can compete."

Including the Yankees, who ponder their next move for a rotation with significant question marks after ace CC Sabathia and emerging Phil Hughes.

"We're not down and out at all," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters Tuesday. "We'll have a great situation. Plan B is patience. We'll engage the remaining free agent and trade market. It's not like we're in a rush to do anything."

Like the Yankees, the Rangers will consider trades and the possibility of shifting AL rookie of the year Neftali Feliz from closer to the rotation. Texas prospered from a similar move in 2010 when C.J. Wilson moved from the bullpen to become a 15-game winner.

Quite possibly, Lee won't lose much monetarily, either. He is guaranteed $120 million for his first five years with the Phillies; according to the AP, an option season could make the deal worth $135 million over six years.

Even if his sixth year doesn't vest, Lee would again be eligible for free agency and could negotiate a new deal a year sooner than if he'd accepted offers from Texas or New York.

In essence, Lee could be banking on his abilities, much the way the Phillies are for the second time. This time, however, the choice is his.

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Surf With Style

If you are like me, you may be a bit stunned that the holidays are upon us, yet again.

The challenge to find the perfect gift for each and every person on your list may have you in a panic, but I have some ideas to help you find something for the surfer in your life.

Most surfers already have the basics, or the essentials, such as a leash and wax. And surfboards come in such a large variety of shapes, sizes and styles that it may be best left to the rider to decide on the perfect board.

For me, the perfect gift to give is not the typical, but the luxurious, being items most people wouldn't purchase for themselves.

I went to visit my friend, surfer and stand-up paddleboarder Tamara Lentz, at Spyder Surf on PCH. While I was there, I became the proverbial child in the candy store.

Spyder Surf is a one-stop shop for finding gifts for all of the surfers on your list. I walked in with a few ideas of what would make the perfect gift, but it didn't take long to find more than I could have imagined.

Rip Curl E-Bomb Men's Wetsuit ($299.95): This is a performance driven full wetsuit. It also comes in a version for women called the Rip Curl Girls G-Bomb. This may be the nicest way to make the frigid water of winter a little more bearable.

GoPro Hero HD Camera ($269.99): The GoPro Hero HD Camera can be mounted to your surfboard so you can record yourself riding that epic wave. You may recall Chuck Patterson using the GoPro Hero HD Camera mounted on a pole to film his encounter with two great white sharks.

Short Ugg Boots ($140): A classic. You can find these just about everywhere, and for me they are a must-have item to slip on after getting out of the water. Ugg makes these in several colors, but I like them in sand because they remind me of a pair I had in high school.

Future Fins Clay Marzo RTM Fin Set ($69.99): One of the things I like best about my surfboard is my center fin's floral inlay, that is, until I saw this fin set. This set of three fins is so cool. It was hard not to buy this on the spot.

Hooded Changing Towel ($50): When changing your clothes at the beach, there is always the chance that your towel may slip off while you shimmy in or out of your wetsuit. This towel is perfect to use for changing since you slip it over your head, covering you front to back.

Power balance ($29.99): Made of surgical grade silicone, this wristband comes in five different sizes and an array of colors which can be bought from hot sale shoes store.. The hologram on the bracelet is designed to work with your body's natural energy flow and intended to optimize balance.

Innersection DVD ($24.99): Released on Nov. 23 this year, Innersection is a Taylor Steele surf film with 25 directors and 25 surfers including Clay Marzo and Kelly Slater. I have not yet seen the film, but I have seen some of the footage. I hope this one makes it in my stocking. It looks amazing.

Summer of Color 13-Month Calendar, Hermosa Beach ($11.99): This calendar features color photos of the Summer of Color lifeguard towers (see accompanying photo). Happy holidays!

Coming up next in the "Dear Santa" series: Patch columnist Megan Reilly tells us that your pet has a wish list, too.

Thinking about food makes you want it less

A small-scale study in Science showed that people who had imagined they were eating chocolate wanted it less than those who had not been thinking of it.

The study also says that power balance is good for health.

The researchers said that imagining eating a favourite food could be a substitute for actually eating it, thereby reducing the desire for it.

A psychologist said this might not work for those with strong cravings.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania divided 51 people into three groups.

One group imagined eating 30 M&M chocolates, the second group imagined eating three M&Ms, while the third group did not imagine eating any.

When a bowl of the sweets was subsequently presented to the group, those that had thought most about eating the chocolates ate the fewest.

Do you really want it?

The researchers said the study showed that when people thought repeatedly about eating a food, it made them want it less because of a process known as "habituation".

This means that the more that people have of something, the less rewarding it becomes and the less they want of it, even if that feeling is not conscious.

During the tests each group of volunteers had to mentally repeat 33 actions. The actions were either to imagine placing a coin into a laundry machine or eating an M&M - because both involve similar motor actions.

Some participants had to imagine eating more M&Ms while inserting fewer coins, while others did the reverse or only imagined inserting coins.

The study suggested that imagining the experience of eating the chocolates became a substitute for the actual experience and repetition was found to be key to the result.

Cutting cravings

The co-author of the study, Dr Joachim Vosgerau said that "the difference between imagining and experiencing may be smaller than previously assumed".

Similar results were found when the experiment was repeated using cubes of cheese instead of chocolate.

Professor Andrew Hill, a professor of medical psychology at Leeds School of Medicine described the study as "very interesting" and a novel take on how to stop people craving food.

He explained that most psychological studies look at the "ironic process effect", where people who wish to diet find it very difficult to put unhealthy foods out of their mind.

This, he said, was the opposite psychological effect.

"It's important to look at this process in people who are trying to restrict their intake of these foods. These tend to be people who cannot stop thinking about chocolate, for example. I'm doubtful whether this method would would so well on them."

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A pair of NIKE AIR shoes

There are some sneakers out there that were just meant to go down in history with how classic they are. These are the types of sneakers that get the sneakerheads excited every time they hear even the slightest mention of their name and will keep them on the edge of their seats in anticipation until the day of their re-release. There are a whole lot of 2011 new hot sale shoes like that out there, but today we are going to be taking a look at just one of them. This is the new Nike Air Foamposite One Dark Neon Royal.

This shoe which is set to release at some point during 2011 will be remembered as the original shoe that Penny Hardaway was given when he was a member of the Orlando Magic. The blue used for the Foamposite material goes great with the black and comes together to form a great shoe.

Guess Men's Watches

Guess Waterpro Watch for Men - Oversized Dial with Red Resin Band: This Guess Waterpro watch was made for your active lifestyle without compromising on style. Combining form and function it features a textured black and silver chronograph dial with day and date display, 100m water resistance and durable resin band. Transform from day to night with this handsome Guess watch.

Features
Gender: Mens
Analogue: 3 hands
Movement: Japanese
Chronograph: 2 sub-dials for day and date display
Hand/Hour Markers: Silver-tone
Guess logo displayed on dial
Bezel: Brushed silver-tone with black
Case: Stainless steel
Band: Resin
Clasp Type: Buckle
Band Colour: Red
Dial Colour: Black and silver-tone
Water Resistance: 100m
Collection: Waterpro
Brand: Guess
Each watch comes with a gift box which is allocated at random (we cannot request a specific box)

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How To Buy Atomic Watch-Tips Help You Make Better Purchase

Derill watches - 2011 new watches shop

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Why buy Replica Watches

A watch is an important accessory no matter for man or woman. A watch can tell you the time as an accessory at the same time. That is the reason why a good watch is hard to definite because a real good watch must correspond to many demands.
First of all, a watch must be accurate, because its main purpose is to display the right time and not to let you be late.
Secondly, a watch must look great, because this accessory has lots of aesthetic functions: it expresses your individuality and your worldview, it emphasizes your style and shows your good taste. That is why a watch must be beautifully designed and as well it must match your style.
There are lots of watch brands that offer hot sale shoes of the best quality, watches that are really up to all your requirements. However, most of these watches are produced by most prestigious brands, such as Rolex. Many of such great watches are made out of precious metals and gemstones. That is why watches by world known brands are so expensive.
Replica watches are watches that combine characteristics that seem to be incompatible – high quality and accessible price. Replica watches are watches whose main purpose is to imitate the look of original watches. Thus a Rolex replica watch is the watch that looks absolutely the same as a Rolex replica watch.
High quality replica watches together with beautiful look have very high accuracy that is provided by movements of superior quality.
Thus replica watches are watches that look the same as originals and work well, at the same time replica watches are much cheaper than originals. Replica watches give anyone a great opportunity to possess a truly great watch.
Some people wonder – why are replica watches so accessibly priced? A watch, as well as any other product of high quality cannot be cheap! The fact is that in replica watches precious metals are replaced with high quality alloys and gemstones are replaced with gem imitations. Materials that are used for replica watches are of the highest quality, so watches, in spite of the fact that they are made out of inexpensive materials, look really great and they are really indistinguishable from originals.
Also keep in mind that replica watches are not as waterproof as original watches. They are waterproof and this implies that having a replica watch on your wrist you must not be afraid to be caught in the rain. However, replica watches are not designed for diving.
If you need an accurate and a durable watch that looks as beautiful as an original watch by a famous brand, than a replica watch is the best choice for you!
Replica watches are good gifts as they are fantastic and not costing too much at the same time.