Dirk Nowitzki: The German Wonder

By P. Albert

The first time the NBA saw a European become a star in the league was back when Drazen Petrovic was making headlines with the Nets. Unfortunately, he never had a chance to show his true potential as he was killed in a car accident in 1993. The NBA would continue to see more and more European players enter the league even after Drazen's death, but they were never able to match the star power that he had. That is, until a German by the name of Dirk Nowitzki entered the league.

Nowitzki entered the league back in 1998 when he was chosen by the Milwaukee Bucks with the ninth overall pick. However, he was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks on draft day in exchange for Robert Traylor. Prior to entering the NBA Draft, Nowitzki declined several offers from colleges who were interested in acquiring him. He became a prep-to-pro player who decided to immediately pursue an NBA career, and this was pretty rare back then.

Dirk struggled during his rookie season and many thought that he was a complete draft bust. However, he refused to give up and by his second year in the league, his statistics had greatly improved. Playing under the guide of Don Nelson, Dirk was quickly becoming one of the league's rising stars. He became a part of the Dallas' Big Three, which consisted of himself, Steve Nash, and Michael Finley. The Big Three were nearly unstoppable on offense and helped lead the Mavs to the playoffs for five consecutive seasons (2000-2004).

But Nowitzki would eventually find himself the only remaining piece of the Big Three by the 2004 season as his close friend Steve Nash had become a free agent and signed with the Phoenix Suns. The task of becoming the team's leader was now placed on Dirk's shoulders and although he struggled adjusting to the leadership role at first, he has since taken it in stride.

Under his leadership, the Mavs would make their very first NBA Finals appearance in 2006 where they would lose to the Miami Heat in six games. He would receive a chance at redemption, as the Mavericks would make their second finals appearance in 2011 against the very same team that beat them back in 2006. This time though, the result would be different as the Mavs came out on top and Dirk finally won his first NBA championship.

Through the years, Dirk has become one of the most unstoppable players in the league because of his versatility. Once his career comes to an end, he will be regarded as the greatest European player to have ever step foot in the NBA.

P. Albert is huge sports fan. Are you a Dirk Nowitzki fan or do you love basketball as much as me? Head over to AllSportsPeople for an entire listing of not only your favorite basketball players, but for profiles of athletes from various sports - soccer, MMA and even wresting entertainers as well. Come visit us today.

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The Best Pitches for Beginning Pitchers

By David J Weller

Many beginning pitchers believe that they need to be able to throw a lot of pitches, or at least a curve ball, in order to be effective. That is simply not the case. It is possible to be very effective with just knowing 2 or 3 pitches, even without a curve ball. In fact, throwing a curve ball at a young age can be damaging to the arm. All you need to throw are fastballs (2-seam and/or 4-seam) and a change-up. The key is to change speeds and locations. If a pitcher can keep the hitter off balance, that pitcher will be successful.

The first pitch that should be learned is a fastball. There are two common types of fastballs: a 2-seam fastball and a 4-seam fastball. The 4-seam fastball is usually taught first because it has a straight trajectory. The pitcher holds the ball with the index finger, middle finger, and thumb. The index finger and middle finger are perpendicular to the seams where the seams are the closest. This causes both of the fingers to touch two of the seams, so there are four places where the fingers connect with the seams. That is why it is called a 4-seam fastball. It is thrown hard and straight.

Once the pitcher can throw the 4-seamer, it is time to learn the 2-seamer. It is held in a similar fashion, except that the fingers are parallel to the seams. This means that one finger is on one seam and the other is on another seam. Therefore, there are two contact lines, giving it the name 2-seam fastball. This gives the ball a different spin which causes it to move a little bit from left to right. It does not have very much motion compared to a curve ball, but it is different than the 4-seam fastball. That difference is something that the batter has to consider when swinging.

The third pitch is a change-up. This pitch is thrown with the same arm movement and arm speed, but the ball speed is significantly slower. This disrupts the hitter's timing, causing them to swing early. There are many ways to hold the ball to get this effect. The most effective way for a young pitcher or one with small hands is to use three fingers instead of two. A good change-up will look like a fastball coming out of the pitcher's hand, only to arrive at the plate a split second later than expected.

You may be asking, "Why not a curve ball?" Well, at this point, it is more important for a pitcher to learn how to pitch and how to throw strikes. They will need to improve their mechanics and build their strength and velocity. Also, for younger pitchers, it can wreak havoc on their arms, causing injuries that could otherwise be avoided and may even be permanent. Once a pitcher has mastered the fastball and change-up, curve balls can be added. But for now, these three pitches should be sufficient.

The pitcher will need to be able to throw all three of these pitches where they want to. Being able to pitch inside, outside, high, and low at any time will keep the hitter guessing. Mixing all three pitches without becoming predictable will also make it hard for the hitter. The secret of pitching is not letting the batter know where the ball will be next or how fast it is coming. These three pitches, along with practice, will help any pitcher be successful.

DJ Weller has been a student of baseball for over 30 years. He enjoys passing on his knowledge to all those who are interested.

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