Hawks rally but fall short against Heat

After the Heat seemingly buried the Hawks in a 20-point hole, Atlanta staged a furious rally behind its reserves and tied the game late before losing 98-90 at Philips Arena on Monday night.

Miami's victory kept it in contention for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta lost its season-high fifth game in a row.

After being locked into the No. 5 seed in the East, the Hawks gave lackluster efforts in weekend losses at Indiana and Washington. The Pacers are a marginal playoff team and the Wizards are among the worst teams in the East.

A visit from the Heat seemed to awaken Atlanta from its slumber.

"Especially the way they beat us here last time," Hawks guard Jamal Crawford said, referring to Miami's 105-86 victory on March 18 at Philips Arena. "They have a lot of momentum [after] beating Boston. We feel like we can get the momentum going towards the playoffs."

The Hawks seemed more focused and energized but couldn't overcome big games from the Heat's All-Star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh or Miami's stifling team defense.

Atlanta's bench players gave it a shot, though.

The Heat twice led by 20 points in the third quarter and the Hawks came back once their starters took a seat. Forward Damien Wilkins scored on consecutive baskets to cap a 22-7 run that cut the Heat's lead to 84-81 with less than seven minutes to play.
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Hawks forward Josh Powell scored on back-to-back baskets to trim the lead to 86-85. After the Hawks failed to score on two offensive rebounds, Heat center Zydrunas Ilgauskas made two free throws followed by a score from Hawks center Zaza Pachulia.

As Pachulia ran back down the court, Ilgauskas threw the ball at his back. Officials ejected Ilgauskas and Crawford made the technical foul shot to tie the game at 88-88 with 3:28 to play.

But the Heat had a stronger finishing kick. James Jones converted a four-point play and made another 3-pointer and James scored on a free throw and basket to push Miami's lead to 98-90.

James, Wade and Bosh combined to outscore the Hawks 49-46 in the first half and finished with 70 points. Atlanta starters Kirk Hinrich, Joe Johnson and Al Horford combined for just 18 points and 6 of 22 shooting in 66 minutes.

Alvaro Quiros saves the best for last at the Masters

Reporting from Augusta, Ga. — The crowds that had reveled in the Augusta National sunshine were either headed to the exits or already headed to dinner by the time Alvaro Quiros stepped to the 18th tee. After all, it already had been a long day.

Masters icons Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer were cheered as they hit their ceremonial tee shots. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson drew their usual flocks of followers. Rory McIlroy carried the banner of the next generation with a scintillating seven-under-par 65.

And then Quiros finished it off with an unexpected flourish.

Rory McIlroy has first down with a 65 at Augusta

A huge drive led to a laserlike nine-iron that came to rest no more than four feet past the hole, completing a birdie-birdie finish as the Spaniard carded his own 65 in Thursday's final group to stand alongside McIlroy at the top.

What's so unexpected about that? Consider that in two previous Masters visits, Quiros had never produced anything better than a 75.

"I don't know if this is just an instant, for a day," said the affable Spaniard, pleasantly baffled by the transformation. "For the moment, I am very happy with my game. Tomorrow, I cannot say how it's going to be resolved."

McIlroy sounded much more assured after his bogey-free round, at 21 becoming the youngest to hold a share of a day-end Masters lead. Seve Ballesteros was 23 when he led after 1980's opening round.

It also marks the second time in the past three majors that McIlroy laid claim to a first-round lead.

The Northern Ireland pro opened last year's British Open with a 63 at St. Andrews that matched the major-championship scoring record — promptly followed by an 80 as high winds strafed the Old Course a day later.

Happily for McIlroy, Friday's forecast calls for winds not much above 12 mph.

"It was a very valuable lesson in my development as a golfer," said McIlroy, who came back to place third at St. Andrews. "I feel as if I'm playing really well, so hopefully [a repeat] doesn't happen and I can go out and shoot another good score."

Tiger Woods says he's 'right there in the ballgame'

Thursday's 65s matched the lowest opening Masters round in the past 10 years, alongside Chad Campbell's scorecard two years ago.

Y.E. Yang, the 2009 PGA Championship winner, and fellow Korean K.J. Choi provided the nearest pursuit with a pair of 67s. Matt Kuchar and Ricky Barnes, both former U.S. Amateur champions, were another stroke back.

Mickelson and Woods kept themselves in the hunt, but find themselves needing to make up some ground. Mickelson opened his title defense with a 70, starting with seven consecutive pars and stung by a closing bogey.

"I scrambled well to stay in," Mickelson said, "but I also let four or five good birdie opportunities slide."

Woods posted a 71, once again left wanting by not enough putts actually falling into the hole. He needed 30 to complete the round, missing an eight-foot birdie chance at No.18.

"I hit beautiful putts all day," Woods said. "A couple of bad ones, but overall felt really good over the putts. Realistically, the round probably should have been 68 [or] 69."
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Instead, Woods failed to break 70 in a Masters opening round for the 16th time in 17 career visits, including three as an amateur.

Retief Goosen matched an obscure Masters record for fastest start, holing an eight-iron for eagle with his second swing of the day. Only one other man has started a Masters with an eagle at No.1, Scott Verplank in 1987.

Reese Witherspoon talks How Do You Know

In writer-director James L. Brooks' [Terms of Endearment, As Good As It Gets] new romantic comedy -- starring Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson -- Reese Witherspoon portrays a champion softball player who is facing the possibility of being let go by the U.S. Olympic softball team because she is 31 years old.

Although her character is nowhere near ready to settle down, Witherspoon admitted to us that that aspect was part of the challenge as she is raising two children and also in a serious relationship.

Her How Do You Know character required not only training with the U.S. softball team, but also getting into the mindset of an athlete, one she compared to young actresses in Hollywood.

"I found it really interesting in that there’s a parallel to being an actor, especially as a woman. You get the feeling sometimes your clock is ticking," Witherspoon said. "You can only hope to have the career of a Meryl Streep or Diane Keaton."

If winning an Oscar for Walk the Line and the astounding body of work she has produced is any indication, we don’t think Reese Witherspoon has anything to worry about in terms of Hollywood longevity. She’s already well on her way to being the next Streep or Keaton.

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Snowstorm adds insult to misery for Giants

When Barry Cofield found out that the Giants were going to be spending the night in Appleton, Wis., just after they lost to the Packers last night, 45-17, he called it “a disaster scenario.”

Imagine how he must feel now.

One day later, the Giants are still at their team hotel in Appleton, awaiting word on when (if?) they might be able to return home. So far, like so many other standard travelers (including me and most of Team Daily News), they still haven’t gotten clearance to fly back to Newark, according to Giants PR chief Pat Hanlon. Due to the blizzard in the New York area, it’s not clear when they will.

The players have been told the next update on their situation will be provided at 5 p.m. Central Time. So they're stuck in Appleton at least until then.

So, at the moment, it’s business as usual - - sort of, anyway. It’s like a regular work day for the coaches, who are reviewing the films of yesterday’s game and beginning preparations for their absolutely must-win game against the Redskins in Washington on Sunday.

The players, who would normally be at the Meadowlands practice facility today for a “corrections” walkthrough, had a team breakfast this morning, Hanlon said, and "are resting, getting treatment, spending a lot of time together."

Their hope remains to fly home sometime tonight. (That was my hope, too. It's nice to have hope). However, it seems increasingly unlikely.

The Giants at least should be used to this by now after their great Midwestern adventure from two weeks ago. That was when they were on their way to Minneapolis, but were diverted to Kansas City due to a blizzard. Then they were stranded there when the roof of the Metrodome caved in, forcing the game - - and the Giants - - to be moved to Detroit.

Hopefully this time they packed a few extra bags of clothes, just in case.

Guide to the Kama Sutra

The Kama Sutra originated in India and today is known all over the world. It is probably the most ancient guide on proper sexual techniques and provides great details on how you can enjoy love making in a different way by treating yourself and your partner in a sacred manner. Quite a lot of people believe that Kama Sutra is all about very complicated sexual positions which can probably only be achieved by gymnasts.
However, this is far from reality. Kama Sutra does not really put much importance on sexual positions but recommends being in the present and practicing sexual positions which you are comfortable in and which would prolong your love making sessions with your partner.

The Positions
The Kama Sutra has Soccer Jerseys quite a lot of different sexual positions of various difficulty levels. If you are still new at lovemaking then there are quite a lot of easy positions which would be easy for you to try with your partner. These positions are easy and do not require much effort. However, these are still very pleasurable.

The Tonkin Delight
The woman will have to lie on her back and would have to bend her knees and keep her legs open. The man will have to slide between the legs and lift up the hips for easy penetration. This position is good for the man to penetrate deep. The woman would just have to enjoy herself and lie back.

The Scissor Position
In this position the woman would have to lie down on her back and the man would have to kneel in front of the woman. The man will then hold the legs at the ankles wide apart and then penetrate through the kneeling position. This is one of the best positions to try since it provides deep penetration which is quite stimulating for both partners. Place a cushion under the hips of the woman so that it is comfortable.

The Beat
This is actually quite similar to the missionary position. The woman would lie down with her legs opened up wide and the man will have to put a cushion under the hips for deeper penetration. The man would then have to get on top and penetrate the woman. The man should use his hands in order to control his movements as well as take the weight off the woman’s body. The position is quite stimulating and intimate and allows both caressing and embracing during the penetration.

You do not really need to perform complicated positions in order to enjoy yourself. Even simple positions can be very pleasurable when done correctly.
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A Truly Eco-Conscious Wildlife Project in Jungle Resorts

Gone are the days when safaris were looked upon as the basic lodging discomfort without any food and sanitary provision. Today, safari lodges are one of the most preferable choices for wildlife tours. Travelers get ultimate relaxation, plus the lodges give them unforgettable experience of staying in natures close proximity thus making the jungle trip even more exciting.

Today's savvy travelers look for both style as well as convenience factors. That's why major wildlife tours of India offer authentic lodging amid the majestic wild landscapes where nature lovers can reconnect with nature's core elements. And those who are looking for luxury and pampering, there are provision of luxury wildlife safaris for them.

The actual meaning of safari is journey. Wildlife tours become a truly unforgettable memory of journey, both in the physical as well as psychological sense. Traveling through the wild and natural landscapes takes us away from stressed hustle-bustle of city lives, allowing us to unwind and relax. No calls to attend, to deadlines to meet, just relax and enjoy your adventurous tour in jungle. And the luxury safari lodges just add on value to make your journey an ultimate luxury. Be it dining on gourmet food or enjoying a great massage or spa treatment; these safaris can be a perfect option to rejuvenate your body and soul.

Have you ever been on a journey on elephant back safari in the Indian jungles in search of tigers? It's just such an enjoyable experience which can only be felt.

For an unusual safari experience, a visit to luxury lodges under the infinite skies makes a spectacular retreat. The lodges are equipped with everything to make the most in the way of luxury. However, tented safaris also offer sophisticated style and modern lavishness. They even come with sparkling swimming pools.

For the luxury traveler, there are a huge number of safari lodges options to choose from, each with a slightly different flavor which in itself is an experience to remember for a lifetime.

Skiing Down Under

When most people think of Australia they think beautiful beaches, unique wildlife and glorious weather. But did you know that the land Down Under also boasts world-class ski fields? Australia offers fun in the sun - and snow - with a range of ski resorts and fields that are popular throughout the winter months. When the cold weather hits, Australians and other visitors flock to the ski-fields of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania to hit the slopes. Need some advice on where you'll find the best skiing experiences?

Here's a list and run-down of the most popular Australian skiing destinations.

Thredbo, NSW. Situated in the Snowy Mountains of NSW within Kosciuszko National Park, Thredbo village and ski resort is 500 km south of Sydney. With Mount Kosciuszko the tallest mountain in Australia, Thredbo ski resort is home to the longest ski runs in Australia when the snow falls. With 14 lifts and 50 runs, Thredbo attracts around 700, 000 winter visitors annually.

Perisher, NSW. Perisher is Australia's largest skiing resort as well as the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere. Like Thredbo, Perisher is set in the Snowy Mountains of NSW. The resort is most popular in July when many NSW, ACT and Victorian families flock to the slopes for school holidays. There are four villages to Perisher - Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega - and between them a wide range of accommodation to choose from.

Falls Creek, Victoria. Falls Creek is a ski-in and ski-out resort in Victoria that enjoys relatively uncrowded conditions compared to other Australian ski resorts. Almost 80% of Falls Creek runs are classified as beginner and intermediate making it a popular ski destination for those just starting out or finding their feet in the world of skiing. Falls Creek will suit beginner skiers looking for Victoria holidays.

Mount Hotham, Victoria. A mountain in Victoria, Australia, Mt Hotham is made up of Mt Hotham Village and Mt Hotham Ski Resort. Mt Hotham holds the record for the highest annual snowfall for a resort in Victoria and is home to Mary's Slide - one of the Australia's most difficult runs.

Mount Buller, Victoria. Mount Buller is one of Australia's most popular ski fields due to its close location to Melbourne. With a network of 25 lifts it offers visitors 80 km of trails and is capable of moving more than 40, 000 people per hour. Because of its proximity to Melbourne, Mount Buller is full and crowded during the winter months, so book early!

There are a number of other ski resorts and snow fields in Australia that offer excellent skiing conditions. If you're looking for other antipodean skiing destinations, New Zealand also offers a range of quality and popular ski resorts.

Look for affordable New Zealand flights to get you there. While most Australian ski destinations are accessible by car, if you're coming interstate there is also a range of cheap flights to get you to the closest city. Where will you choose to have your next Australian alpine adventure?