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Tennis balls were originally made of wood, but as the game progressed and so did the way it was played, it required changes be made to the equipment as well.  Soon enough, people started to make them from leather, and perhaps more disgustingly, hair as well.  But since people didn’t bathe much back in the renaissance era of England, when these changes started to take place, nobody probably noticed much.

There were certain things tennis balls could not be filled with it.  At least according to the French King, Louis XI.  Dirt, chalk, and sand were considered poor materials to make tennis balls out of, and as the game was considered a royal game, it was quite popular among the royals, what the king said went.  Various materials have been employed to create tennis balls throughout the years.  Often they were au natural, and not the technological influenced synthetics of today designed to improve tennis scores.  Sheep intestines, fur from various animals, and wood have all been used to try and create the perfect tennis ball.  But for these kinds of balls, they could only really be played indoors since that’s what the designers were working for; tennis was originally only an indoor game played off of walls.

Vulcanized rubber and outdoor matches changed that all in the late seventies.  Several other changes occurred in tennis around this time as well, such a reordering and organizing of the rules by which players should play.

Today, tennis balls still have a kind of strict guide for which they must be made, though no king is making the rules about it.  They must be between 2.575-2.700 inches and weigh between 1.975-2.095 ounces—very precise measurements.  However, tennis is all about precision for the players.  It takes an analytical mind to play tennis, to plan for moves and countermoves and to watch the ball with an eagle’s eye.  Standardizing the tennis ball only helps to make doing all that easier for a player.  For the upcoming Australian Open, though players might not realize it, the changes made to the tennis ball are helping them to make history.

Rugy England refers both to a market town in the West Midlands as well as the larger Borough region surrounding the area. The town itself is located on the River Avon and has a population of around 62,000 people. One of its largest claims to fame is being acknowledged as being the birthplace of the sport called rugby football. However, there are many similar sports that serve as predecessors and one dates back to the Ancient Greeks, whose version of the game was known as episkuros. Guests staying in a luxury Rugby hotel are most definitely there for more than the chance to play the game or think that the resort itself will serve to host one.

The game now known as rugby was established in 1823 by William Ebb Ellis. He invented the game at Rugby School, which is located near the center of the town. The school itself is one of the most prestigious public schools in England, as well as being one of its oldest. While Ellis is given the credit for creating the game, the actual story of its invention has been designated as fitting into the category of lore and legend. There is no absolute authority on its actual creation, the standard belief is that it occurred during a standard association football game when Ellis picked up the ball. It’s a simple anecdote, and is similar to the apple falling on Newton’s head leading to his discovery of gravity. Ellis, however, is memorialized by the William Ebb Ellis Cup, which is awarded to the winning team of the Rugby Union World Cup.

The Rugby Union World Cup is the highest international union rugby competition. The next Rugby World Cup will take place in 2011 and New Zealand will be the hosting country. After that England will host the event in 2115 followed by its taking place in Japan in 1919. The obvious scheduling structure for the event is that it occurs every four years in a previously determined country. It is also considered an honor to host the event.

Many have the idea that the deserts of South Africa, suggest an absence of life, of flora and fauna. The harsh climate and the seemingly desolate look of deserts bring many to that conclusion. But it is the wrong conclusion. Just the grassland areas alone can contain upwards of sixty different species of grass. One of the most splendid vacation options is to travel to this country, stay in one of the luxury hotels South Africa boasts in the major cities, and then get out of town on safari, and travel through any of the five regional habitats, the forest, the Karoo, the Grassland, the Savannah or the Fynbos. Each of these zones have distinctive plant life based on the conditions of the climate. And in which ever region one chooses to explore, there will be flowers. More than ten percent of the flowering species of plants in the world are located in South Africa. Just along the Peninsula of Cape Town, there are more species than the entire country of Great Britain.

The King Protea is the national flower of South Africa and is found throughout the region of Fynbros. The range in color is tremendous within the species, as well as with the Ericas, and the Leucadendrons, which bloom throughout the year. There are five hundred and fifty species of native orchids growing on the mountains of the country, as well as Pelargoniums and Irises. South Africa has contributed to the gardens of all those throughout the world, with the previously mentioned beauties as well as the incredible Arum Lilies. For those wondering about the perfect time to visit, to take in the color and the aroma of these wildflowers, that would be spring. On the Cape the sight is breathtaking, and even more so is the region surrounding Namaqualand. This is a rocky, hot, and dry desert throughout the year, but come spring-time, for a few short weeks, the ground is covered with dazzling carpets of color, Daisies and Gardenias add color and enchanting scents. These flowers in the Kalahari desert are just one of the many reasons to visit this incredible country of South Africa.

After contentious negotiations, it was announced this week that South Africa will be the host nation for the 2009 IPL. The season will feature 59 matches between eight franchises played on a 34 day schedule.

Cape Town will be the site of the opening ceremonies on Saturday, April 18th. This will be followed by the opening match between the 2008 champion Rajasthan Royals and the Royal Challengers. A second match will feature the Mumbai Indians playing the Chennai Super Kings. The events will be held at the Newlands. The crowds expected for the opening day will likely make it difficult to find rooms in any Cape Town luxury hotel.

While South Africa was the favorite to host this second season of the IPL, England was also in the running. Concerns over the weather in England as well as the costs of travel to England as well as conflicts over television rights made South Africa the top choice.

Security will be a priority in organizing the five-week event. Difficulty ensuring player safety was what forced officials to move the tournament from India. Other logistical concerns will be at the forefront, given there is less than a month to pull together this event which will involved 400 players and officials as well as thousands of spectators.

In addition to Cape Town, matches will be held in Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and Pretoria. The second semi-final and final match will be held in Johannesburg on May 23-24 as well at the official closing ceremony.

Tennis season seems boring some years but the 2008 tennis season has been anything but boring. In fact, most say that it has been a historical season. That is mostly because world ranked number two Rafael Nadal of Spain won the French Open for a fourth straight year and then he won the Wimbledon. Defeating the world ranked number one and defending champ of the Wimbledon in both tournaments threw everyone for a loop.

The U.S. Open tennis tournament will almost certainly have Nadal and Federer in the finals match. And most speculate that Federer will win. While this is highly probably, Nadal seems to be on a mission. And he seems determined to win the U.S. Open also.

It will be interesting to see how all of the pros fair due to the tournaments proximity with the 2008 Olympics. The players usually have a longer break between tournaments with adequate time to rest and recuperate in between. But this year the tennis portion of the Olympics is right before the U.S. Open.

This year’s tennis season has been predictable. I knew Roger Federer was going to play against French Open defending champ Rafael Nadal. And I knew that Nadal would win. I can see the seriousness in his eyes when it comes to the Roland Garros. He doesn’t want anyone else to win it, especially not Federer.

I was somewhat surprises when I flipped on the Tennis Channel to see that Justine Henin was retiring but only briefly. She had not been playing very well and the fire in her belly seemed to be missing in action. After her divorce and a couple of injuries, I had a feeling that she would be leaving the sport.

So while there are not many surprises in tennis, I think that it’s predictability shows how consistent the sport is. The players take their roles seriously and they show their talent on the specific courts.

With the trend to choose a career that is enjoyable, many are turning to golf schools more than any other. This is because the sport of golf is the type of industry where individuals can branch out into new things as they grow. Gone are the days of finding a vocation and sticking with it just because the pay is good. Many feel that if most of their life will be spent working, it should be in a career they love. To get a good education, many turn to SDGA. This means getting a degree that will be recognized anywhere.

Whether one is set on managing a beautiful golf course or teaching golf to school age children, the right skills and the right credentials will be necessary to land a job. The golf industry is one that has elements all its own and an individual that comes fully prepared to work is the one employers notice first. In addition, those with degrees have the ability to increase their earning power. Individuals who not only love their career but also get paid well find themselves the envy of almost everyone around them.

Tennis is a very personal thing to most fans. That is why there are so many people that feel so strongly about the Grand Slam tournaments and which one is the hardest for the athletes.

If you watch the French Open tennis tournament news, you will see many rivalries every year. For the past 3 years, Rafael Nadal has won this tournament and for the past 2 years he has defeated Roger Federer. Nadal is known as the "King of Clay" and Federer is known as the "King of Grass" as each have their own strong suits.

It is because many feel that the difference in the courts changes the game and some types require more athleticism that others. You be the judge in this year’s Roland Garros tournament.

Anyone that loves tennis as much as me looks forward to this time of year. The third of the Grand Slam events is quickly coming up and Wimbledon 2008 is sure to be as intense as 2007.

Last year’s tennis tournament was wonderful to watch but what makes this year great is that I get to go to England for this grass-court event! I’ve never been to Europe and I can’t wait to see this historic event in person.

I read that after last year’s tournament, they built a roof over the court for this year but that after Wimbledon 2008, they will take it down and build a retractable roof. I’m not sure why but I’ll bring my sunscreen and a hat. I can’t wait to see the tournament in person.