Soccer Ronaldinho

By Denise I Smithson

Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira) was born on March 21, 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and would rise to be one of soccer's greatest. The five-foot eleven, one-hundred seventy-seven pound forward would wow audiences with his mastery as early as 1999, beginning amateur play following in his father Joao's footsteps, becoming skilled in beach and indoor (futbal) soccer.

Born to Miguelina, and cared for by his sisters and brother after his father's death when he was only eight, Ronaldinho achieved his first cap with the Brazilian senior team in 1999 with club Gremio under head coach Celso Roth. In 2001, Arsenal FC wanted Ronaldinho but this move would not go through as Ronaldinho was unable to obtain a work permit. Eventually, Ronaldinho would sign a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain FC where some reported he enjoyed his nightlife more than football. Unhappy in Paris, Ronaldiho finally went back to Barcelona in 2004.

Major success came to Ronaldinho at the Copa America held in Paraguay where he mesmerized audiences playing alongside teammates Ronald and Rivaldo scoring Brazil's fifth goal in a 7-0 wipeout of Venezuela. Now known as the "wonder goal," in 2002 during the FIFA World Cup in Japan, Ronaldinho scored the game-winning goal through an amazing 30-yard free kick that surprised the English's unaware goalkeeper, David Seaman. His team would win this quarterfinal and go on to win the World Cup where Ronaldinho achieved soccer greatness by being named to the all-tournament team.

Soccer's greatest prizes seem magnetized to Ronaldinho. He was won: the FIFA World Player of the Year (2004 and 2005); the UEFA's Champion League Award (2006, a years when he put in seven goals in only12 matches) in Barcelona; and numerous others. "Sports Illustrated" magazine declared that Ronaldinho was the athlete with the fifth highest income in the world for 2008; his earnings of $37.5 million included his salary and bonuses on top of product endorsements and pay for making live appearances. The 28-year-old was now in the company of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Beckham, and Kimi Raikkonen.

During his 200th match in the summer of 2008, Ronaldinho dismayed his fans and spectators of soccer by going down with a right leg injury--an injury that got him sitting the bench for the rest of the season. Then to complicate matters, Ronaldinho and his club got into an argument over his decision to play in the Bejing Olympic games. Nevertheless, Ronaldinho eventually got a deal with the Italian Club AC Milan and went on to play in the Olympics alongside his countrymen.

Manchester City offered Ronaldinho a contract for over $25 million to play for them at a time when he was getting paid $21 million in Barcelona; however, he turned down this offer but instead when with AC Milan on a three-year deal. However, he gave up his #10 because it had been retired for Italian AC Milan player Clarence Seedorf. He replaced it with #80 for the year of his birth. Milan quickly saw the wisdom of their new player selection when Ronaldinho scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Internazionale in September of 2008.

Against Sporting Braga in the November 2008 UEFA Cup, Ronaldinho got Milan inot a 2-2 draw after they had fallen behind 2-0 when he scored a match-winner in the 93rd minute. His brother Roberto has been quite the force as Ronaldinho's brother Roberto has acted as his brother's agent and already brought him more endorsements for him that are booked up through 2014. Ronaldinho seems in better spirits these days in Milan, Italy.

Becoming a father in 2005 with the birth of his son Joao, named after his father and mother of Brazilian dancer Janaina Mendes, Ronaldinho's soccer fate seems to be set in stone-what team he will remain on may be known only to Ronaldinho and Roberto. With fans of soccer everywhere shouting his name and cheering him on, we bet Ronaldinho will be a best bet for any team and some may dream, "what about the US?

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Remembering Old Shea Stadium

By Denise I Smithson

By the time the old Shea Stadium said goodbye, it had been in existence for 44 years. Thinking back, it is hard to imagine that at one point in the history of baseball, the Mets were an expansion team some sixty years after their cross-town American League rivals first took the field. Oh, and for all you informational buffs out there the stadium was originally called the Flushing Meadow Park Municipal Stadium.

Throughout its history, Shea Stadium has housed some of the greatest names in baseball ever to appear on a baseball roster. Duke Snider, Nolan Ryan, Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Richie Ashburn, and Gary Carter all made it to the baseball Hall of Fame. Other players, just as entertaining if not as famous, like Lenny "Nails" Dykstra and Gil Hodges that just gritted it out from day to day are also remembered with fondness.

Yes, there have been lots of good times and a few bad times; we've been confronted with ugly and outrageous behavior of players and fans, but in the end we have some awesome memories woven into the fabric of the stadium's history. Take the 1986 Mets versus Boston Red Sox World Series game, for example, where we watched Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry take the Mets to a victorious climax, winning the World Series that year. Regrettably, the notoriety and high living took its toll as both players spent the remaining years of their baseball careers dealing with the consequences of drug use and other problems.

In 1969 we saw the Amazin' Mets win their first Championship when no one really knew of the young Nolan Ryan who would spend the next 27 years earning the record of the player who struck out 5,714 batters. Remarkable moments like these abound throughout the history of Shea Stadium; in fact, one could literally write a book about the colorful and extraordinary events. And although a new chapter in the stadium's history begins, those special memories of the past will live in the hearts of Mets' fans around the world for eternity.

When the world was stunned by the news of the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Shea Stadium became a relief center for supplies, food, and a place for the victims to stay. Who can forget the first game after that fateful day when the Mets helped to heal the city? For New Yorkers, it was one of the most inspiring nights ever in baseball history. Thousands of fans packed the stadium to watch as the Mets took on the Atlanta Braves. Before the game started the rescue workers were honored and Diana Ross sang God Bless America. It was a very moving experience as the two teams shook hands, united in the face of the tragedy that shook the world. Yes, our Shea Stadium is like no other. May we always remember and look with anticipation to 50 more years of baseball history.

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Did the Mets win the world series in 1986? For questions like this and lots more sports trivia visit http://nothingbutsports.info/ today!

Positioning Orchids

By Robert Hemmings

While orchid plants themselves are extremely varied, in their flowers they know no bounds in terms of variation in structure and colour. The flowers are so diverse and often incredibly beautiful, in stark contrast to what some see as distinctly unattractive plants. Many people are amazed that such beautiful flowers can come from what they consider to be untidy or ugly plants, though to the true enthusiast, most orchid plants are handsome.

Not all orchid blooms can be described as beautiful, however. While the most favoured and widely grown orchids are undeniably lovely, there are many whose flowers are curious, strange and even grotesque in appearance. The genus containing the greatest number of species is Bulbophyllum, but, among its thousand or so species, there are very few that could be described as pretty. While all orchids conform to one basic design, this has been duplicated and modified a thousand times, each variation designed to suit one orchid's particular habitat or way of growing.

The ideal aspect for summer growing is a window that receives either the morning or evening sun, but not direct sun during the hottest part of the day. Most indoor kinds will be happy with this situation. Those orchids that like the shadiest places, such as phalaenopsis and paphiopedilums, will do equally well in a window that does not receive too much sun in summer. Cattleyas and dendrobiums are examples of orchids that like a considerable amount of light, and these would be well suited to a window that receives a great deal of sun, provided there was some shading between the plants and the glass.

Orchids are largely insect pollinated, and their flower structure reflects this. Each flower consists of six segments - three petals and three sepals - that are known collectively as the tepals. The outer three are sepals; the inner three petals. The third of the petals has developed into the labellum, or lip, which provides an ideal landing stage for the pollinating insect. Often the lip is lightly hinged, so that it can position the insect correctly for pollination, as well as ensuring that only the rightsize insect enters the flower. In many orchids, the lip is large and highly coloured and has a bright patterning quite distinct from the rest of the flower.

At the centre are a number of ridges that guide the insect to the bloom. These are usually bright yellow and are called the honey guides. Above the lip is the column - a single, finger-like structure containing the reproductive parts of the flower. The pollen is found at the end dorsal sepal of the column, usually in two, four or six masses. These pollen masses contain the pollen grains, or pollinia, which, unlike other flowers, are not in a powder form. "l'hey are held at the end of the column under a protective cap called the anther.

From among the immense number of hybrids raised, several alliances that contain numerous related genera have emerged. Among these the most favoured are the Cattleya alliance, the Odontoglossum alliance and the Vanda alliance. Within these three natural genera, alliances can be found consisting of anything from two natural genera (Laelia x Cattleya = Laeliocattleya) to six (Cattleya x Brassavola x Broughtonia x Laelia x Schomburgkia xSophronitis = Mooreara), and, in a few instances, nine (Cattleya x Brassavola x Broughtonia x Cattleyopsis x Diacrium x Epidendrum x Laelia x Schomburgkia x Sophronitis = Sallyyeeara). Here, there appears to be no limit on the multiples, which have led to some astonishing results.

On the underside of the column is a sticky patch. This is the stigmatic surface into which the pollinia are deposited. The pollen grains extend their growing tubes down through the centre of the column to reach the ovaries situated directly behind the flower, where they meet the thousands of unfertilized seeds. By the time fertilization is complete, the ovaries will have swollen into a large capsule containing up to a million minute, golden yellow, ripening seeds.

Be aware of those places that could be harmful to orchids. Do not stand the plants directly in front of, or above, an open fire, where they will quickly succumb to overheating and dehydration. Remember that appliances such as the fridge in the kitchen and the television in the living room both give out warmth when working, which is harmful to orchids placed nearby. Also, avoid any area where the plants will be in a draught (draft) from an open doorway or other source of cold air. Finally, wherever you place your orchids, take care to prevent them being knocked over or damaged by pets or children.

About the Author:

Learning about tips on caring for you orchids is important so that your orchid garden will become a healthy plant with beautiful blossoms.

Climbing Strawberries

By Ron House

Worcester berry produces a large, very prickly bush like a gooseberry. The berries are very dark red in colour and they are not easy to pick because of the prickles. It has been grown as a hedge and then is planted 3 feet apart. If it is to be grown as a bush, it needs at least 6 feet. There are a number of hybrid berries which can be grown in a similar manner to blackberries or loganberries.

Boysenberry's exact parentage of this hybrid is not known but it probably has blackberry, raspberry and loganberry blood in it. The fruit is dark wine in colour and not too seedy. It is more delicious than the loganberry and has a more tender plug or core. It usually takes eighteen months before it starts to grow vigorously but, once the roots get a hold, very strong canes are heavy crops of fruits on long spurs, these being well away from the cane are easy to pick. The boysenberry is very hardy and extremely resistant to drought. Plant the canes 12 feet apart.

King's acre berry is a hybrid raised by crossing the blackberry and raspberry. It is picked earlier than the loganberry and the fruit comes away from the core easily, like a raspberry. It is like a long-shaped blackberry of excellent flavour. The canes are sturdy and bear heavy crops of fruit. Plant 8 feet apart.

Clean cultivation is usually practised for the first year but after that a straw or sedge peat mulching can be given. Little pruning is done until the third year when some of the older wood is cut out. The blueberry produces fruit on the previous season's growth. Varieties which are said to have succeeded well on Exmoor are Rubel, Jersey, Burlington and Pemberton. Rubel sets satisfactorily without having to be interplanted with a pollinator.

Most people, however, allow some of the plants to scramble over the surface of the ground and thus they produce a heavy crop of runners for next year's planting and they treat the climbing strawberry as an annual.

Youngberry was raised by a nurseryman called Young of California who crossed the dewberry with the Phenomenal Berry. The fruit is dark red, almost black, large, juicy and with a minimum of seeds. It is easy to pick, for the berries arc carried on spurs well away from the canes which are not, incidentally, very thorny. Plant 7 feet apart.

About the Author:

When planning to create a fruit tree garden or make imrpovements on an existing one, it is important to know the regularions and bye-laws, as they affect garden construction.

How to Propagate Shrub by Cuttings

By Michael Hills

Once the cuttings have rooted they should be hardened off in the autumn by removing the glass and left in the frame for the winter. Woody plants that throw out shoots from the roots may be propagated by root cuttings. This is a fairly simple method, which may be carried out during the dormant period when the gardener has the most time.

Such plants as Hippophae rhamnoides, Chaenomeles lagenaria, Rims typhina, Rubus sp . or Campsis radicans can be propagated in this way. It is best to take the cuttings in December before the soil freezes.

Summer or softwood cuttings are an even more effective means of propagation, used with shrubs that do not multiply well from winter cuttings, e.g. Cytisus, Viburnum, Spiraea, Staphylea, Rhamnus. Summer cuttings must be inserted in a greenhouse, frame, or box covered with glass because they wilt easily and require a moister atmosphere. Summer cuttings are taken from June to the end of August according to the nature and maturity of the shoots. Cuttings from evergreens are usually taken as late as August.

Summer cuttings are taken from spring shoots when they begin to turn woody at the base. They are shorter than winter cuttings, from 4 to 10 cm in length. The bottom cut is again made just below the bud, where new tissue is produced more readily. All leaves are removed from the bottom part of the cutting that is to be inserted into the rooting medium. If the remaining leaves are more than 8-10 cm long, it is best to shorten them by at least half to limit transpiration. 'The best rooting medium for cuttings is a mixture of one part gritty river sand and one part peat, on top of which is added a 1-1.5 cm layer of river sand. This is then well watered and lightly tamped down.

The cuttings should be inserted to about 1/3rd of their length in holes made with a dibber slightly thicker than the cuttings and lightly firmed in. The bed or pot should then be well watered and covered with glass.

The first buds appear in about four to five weeks, at which time the boxes are exposed to the light so that the shoots will be short and sturdy. The ensuing care is the same as with plants from stern cuttings.

About the Author:

Wood is probably the most versatile and often the cheapest and easiest material to use in your garden plan if you are building your own garden enclosure.

Cayenne Pepper or Chilli

By Ashlyn Cadence

The hottest of all seasonings is that obtained from the ripe fruits (berries) of various forms of Capsicum frutescens. Called chillies, they are bright red, much smaller than the fruits of sweet pepper and vary in shape, depending on the variety.

The fruits are generally dried in the sun, becoming wrinkled during the process and turning dark red to orange red. The dried fruits, with calyces removed, are ground to yield cayenne pepper, so named after the port of Cayenne, chief town of French Guiana.

The so-called 'Spanish paprika' is the sweetest variety, the seeds and partitions of which are carefully removed before grinding the fruit.

According to medieval tradition, chopped fresh leaves are added to soups and salads. Caraway may also be used in powdered form, but it must be ground just before being used so the fragrant essential oil does not evaporate.

Caraway is a biennial plant indigenous to a wide area embracing almost all of Europe and Asia. Because of its large consumption it is nowadays grown as a field crop throughout most of Europe as well as in Asia and north Africa. It does not tolerate wet, heavy clay soils.

It is grown from seed and is an annual herb with branching stem attaining a height of 60 cm (2 ft). The fruits are harvested by hand as they ripen and are usually strung like beads and hung to dry under the eaves against the sun-baked walls of rural cottages

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A good herb garden pattern is a geometric pattern of low box hedging, with a single 'Peace Rose' as the focal point around which the whole design radiates.

Sweet Cherries

By John Cornwall

Commercially, the growing of sweet cherries is confined almost entirely to Kent, though years ago good cherries were grown in Buckingham, Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford.

Cherries for years were grown in Kent on grass, with sheep grazing regularly. The result was, and is still, in some cases, that the sward is kept really short while the trees get the animal manure that they need. The alternative on a small acreage would be to use geese. Cherries do best as standard trees and this does enable regular grazing or regular mowing to be carried out. Another method of successful manuring is to cut the grass regularly with a mower, such as a Haytor, and to allow the grass cuttings to rest on the ground as a sod mulch. Meat and bone meal should be applied in February at 2 oz. to the sq. yard, or 6 cwt. to the acre, and dried blood at an ounce to the sq. yard, or 2 cwt. to the acre, early in March. Soot can be used instead of dried blood at 4 oz. to the sq. yard, or ton or so to the acre.

Because standard cherry trees are such strong growers, they have to be planted not less than 40 feet apart either way. This is another reason, incidentally, why it is impossible to grow sweet cherries on a small scale. These trees should be allowed to grow slowly and so they are usually not pruned in the year following planting.

Blossom Wilt, recognized by the withered brown flower trusses, can all be controlled at the moment by the use of Bordeaux Mixture, applied at varying times.

In the case of the wall cherries, the aim in the early stages should be to space the branches out a foot apart, radiating like a fan, and then, having cut the one-year-old growths back by half for two years after planting, it is best to leave the tree to grow naturally, except for summer pruning in. July and August, which may consist of (a) cutting back the very strong growths growing perpendicularly away from the wall right down to their base, and (b) the weaker growths to within three buds of their base. If growths develop on the wall side, these had better be rubbed out when they are only an inch long.

Some of the varieties are Amber Heart. The popular heart-shaped pale yellow cherry with a slight red cheek. A prolific cropper. Pollinators: Napoleon and Florence. Season mid-July; Bigarreau De Schrecken. A shiny black not-too-sweet fruit of excellent flavour. Unfortunately subject to Leaf Spot. Pollinators: Early Rivers and Black Tartarian. Season late June. Bigarreau Napoleon. This is my favourite. A late-flowering yellow and dark red fruit, firm and sweet. A regular cropper, a slow small grower. Susceptible to Leaf Spot and Silver Leaf. Pollinators: Roundel and Florence. Season late July. Black Eagle. Sweet, juicy, purplish black fruits. Heavy cropper. Pollinator: Bigarreau de Schrecken. Season mid-July; Bradbourne Black. Fruit large, late, very dark red. Firm. Late flowerer. Pollinators: Roundel, Napoleon, Merton Favourite and Merton Bounty. Season mid-July-Aug.

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Garden fruit trees prefer a well drained, moist soil with plenty of humus.