The 10 Leading Sports Gear Stores In The Usa - watchstraps blog

Academy Sports & Outdoors, The Sports Authority, Inc. and Dick Sporting Goods are amongst the leading Sports Equipment Stores in the USA.

The 10 top activities gear stores in america are discussed here.

Academia Sports & Outdoors

That specialty firm is well known to be among Americas largest and hottest sporting goods suppliers. With higher than a hundred stores handled all over the southeastern area of the nation, Academy Sports + Outdoors shops supply the activities addicts with a collection of gears, clothing, in addition to components at fairly affordable prices.

The Sports Authority, Inc.

This string offers sets from course sports footwear, apparels and sports extras, at competitive prices. The business also provides an all-encompassing range of sports paraphernalia from marine sports equipment, hiking and camping gears, soccer items, cycling material to basketball games system. In 1987, Sports Authority, Inc. opened its first store in Florida. Now, the business works more than 400 retailers spread in the united kingdom.

Dick?s Sporting Goods

Is IWC replica watches among the most advanced sporting products string in america that gift ideas a sizeable choice of quality sports gear, sports apparel, and sports extras. The company sprang from the simple wish of a new person Dick Stack to sell fishing gears in the late 1940s. Today, Dick Sporting Goods has more than three hundred merchants spread throughout forty states across the United States.

Activity Chalet

Sport Chalet began fifty years ago Mont Blanc Star Gold Jewelleryreplica watches as a shop attempting to sell only scuba and ski equipment. Currently, it has rocketed to be among USAs top activities seller that provides high-end sporting product such as for instance conditioning, bowling, fishing, hockey, airsoft, tennis, snowboarding gadgets, and a lot more. Game Chalet also gives solutions such as for instance fixes, sports expert advice and leases. Stores are observed throughout Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California.

Modell?s Sporting Goods

The organization is among the primary supplier of an extensive line of sporting equipments such as paintball, soccer, skateboarding, working equipments plus therefore a lot more. In addition it provides athletic footwear, and costumes. Brand names for football tops just Like The Champion and Schutt DNA football boots are sold in Modells retailers. Modell?s Sporting Goods is the earliest family possessed niche company of sporting product in the United States. A hundred shops are run almost by the company all over New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia.

Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc.

It is founded in 1945 and is currently based in Birmingham, Alabama. The organization equips sports lovers using its vast multiplicity of affordable attire and gear for sports such as hockey, boxing, basketball, and strength training. It also offers renowned brands of sporting goods like Dickies, Nautilus, NBA, Nike, Oakley, and Ecko. Close to 500 Hibbert Sporting Goods, Inc. Outlets are located in significantly more than twenty American claims.

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)

REI is as a way to obtain an easy line of camp and outdoor sports things and clothing one of many United Sates biggest consumer cooperatives that acts. REI has 77 stores and a comprehensive site, as well. car shelves, pet things, tents, backpacks, sleeping bags and watches are a number of the products that REI offers in its different shops nationwide.

Soccer America

Maryland-based Football America has been providing the United States with the handpicked baseball equipment and supplies for nearly three years now. It provides a complete selection of hard-wearing, powerful baseball outfits, lids, cleats, neck shields, and even more.

ATS Sports

ATS Sports is USAs and the globes largest reference of tennis linked fights such as stringing devices, grips, court gear racquet strings, umpire seats, benches, as well as tennis components. The business is headquartered at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sports & Recreation, Inc.

Could be the eleventh greatest sporting goods team in the usa and is based in Tampa, Florida. It?s a provider of well-liked business name sports gear along with footwear. As Recreation & Sports, Inc expanded its stores and places, in addition, it developed numerous different labels for its stores. The shops were decorated with banners that were directed to Fake Planet Ocean Watch build up the home personality of the business. Local area brands the place where a Sports & Recreation, Inc store is found were taken on while the title of the shop, itself. Thus, the merchants run under labels like Tampa Sports and Jacksonville Sports Unlimited.

Source: http://blogs.rediff.com/watchstraps/2012/12/23/the-10-leading-sports-gear-stores-in-the-usa/

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Guilt-free iPad apps for kids give parents a holiday break

39 min.

Wilson Rothman , NBC News

I love playing with?my kids, but you know?that week when everybody's stuck in the house, when the?weather's at its worst? Or when you're en route to Grandma's, but stuck?on the tarmac with a 4-hour delay??Well, let's say the iPad comes in handy quite a lot. Trouble is, you don't want your kids just sitting there dulling their minds, and?hunting for good stuff in Apple's App Store is a pain. Here are apps we've tested, that have already met with the?approval of?me ? and my youngins.

Disney Deluxe?Storybooks?-?$6.99 -?I gotta say, these started out pretty?well and have come a long way. When you turn the pages, the faux painted scenes move and zoom, almost like they're?coming to life. Every so often there are diversions ? coloring pages, puzzles and story-specific games. In "Brave," there's an archery challenge; in the brand?new "Monsters, Inc." book, there's a?scarer training module. Some of the Disney books are on sale for $2.99?now: "Tangled,""Brave,""Cars 2" and "Finding Nemo."iTunes link

Super Why ABC Adventures: Alphabet for iPad - The PBS Kids sensation has a few iOS titles out.?This latest focuses on letters and basic spelling. What's good about it is that, with five activities tied to the five main characters, a kid can keep playing without risk of getting bored or stuck in a track he or she doesn't like. iTunes link

Scholastic?First Discovery -?The Forest?for iPad?- $1.99 -?Scholastic's simple but aesthetically pleasing walk through the woods is a good example of tricking kids into learning by getting their hands moving. Budding flowers, blowing leaves,?precocious?bunnies and?falling snow ? these?interactive elements combine to teach kids about seasons, plant and animal varieties and environmental concerns.?iTunes link

Little Fox Music Box?- Kids songs?- $2.99 -?Aimed at a toddler audience, this sing-a-long app from Germany?is totally?zany. It features much of the herky-jerky papercraft animation featured in the beloved "Nighty Night" (now in a "Winter Special" edition), and creates three very distinct worlds to accompany "London Bridge," "Old MacDonald" and "Evening Song." There's also a free play mode ? "Fox Studio" ??for making chaotically joyful noises of your own. iTunes link

Toca Band - $0.99 - Underneath its interface, Toca Band is a primitive audio?sequencer, with loops and beats that let you create unique jams. But on its surface, it's a goofy cartoon stage that kids can immerse themselves in before they realize they're making music. My only wish was that there was a record mode to preserve the best tracks. But hey, it's 99 cents ? actually, FREE right now, possibly as a limited-time offer ? so?I am not really complaining. iTunes link

The Great?Cookie Thief - A Sesame Street App - $2.99 - This classic Cookie Monster story comes to life with animated backgrounds and opportunities for drawing and other interaction. Made by Callaway Digital Arts, which also does the "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "Miss Spider" apps, it's a great marriage of a classic franchise with a creative developer.?iTunes link

Where Do?Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery - $1.99 -?A fun animated storybook by everyone's favorite kids' app developer ... Jamie Lee Curtis? What? No, it's really great.?The?drawings have the anarchical scribbling style you see in New Yorker cartoons, and there are lots of unique activities. While my daughter and I still need to master the balloon animal maker, the Balloon Theatre movie?recorder is enough to keep us coming back again and again. iTunes link

Kindergarten Reading HD - $1.99 -?Phonics, reading and spelling are the fundamentals that kids focus on in this fun interactive workbook from one of my all-time favorite kid-app makers, Duck Duck Moose.?Kindergarten Reading stars a new character, Milo the Meerkat, and rewards kids with virtual?stickers so that they can create fun?scenes while taking a break from learning.?(Other slightly less educational?titles I'd also recommend are?Superhero Comic Book Maker?HD, or its girly counterpart,?Princess Fairy Tale Maker.)?iTunes link

Rounds: Parker Penguin - $4.99 -?The latest pre-school learning app from Nosy Crow, this adventure follows Parker Penguin as he slides across the snow, dives into the water, finds a mate, guards an egg and raises a chick. When you get to the end, the circle of life continues with Parker's next of kin. (Don't worry, Parker doesn't die or anything.) Parker Penguin follows a previous?Rounds title featuring a frog named Franklin. iTunes link

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science?editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/guilt-free-ipad-apps-kids-give-parents-holiday-break-1C7662772

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2012 Evolution of SEO & SEM | Internet & Online Marking Ottawa

?December 21st, 2012 ? SEO News, SEO Tips ? jtaylor ?

Google Carved Out the SEO & SEM Search-Scape with a Laser Focus on Quality

As 2012 winds down and the mercury drops in our nation?s capital, Ottawa, the world of SEO and internet marketing continues to evolve across the far reaches of cyberspace. This year, the major search engines continued to tighten up on quality control, and social media platforms figured out how to make money through online marketing and advertising.

We Canadians love our Tim Horton?s coffee, our NHL hockey, except when Gary Bettman locks out the best players on the planet and goes on vacation, and of course, our Internet; in fact, 88% of us here in Ottawa, 16 years or older use the Internet for personal use 2010 Internet Use Survey (StatsCan).

Like our coffee and our hockey, we want the good stuff on the net that will keep us going through the long winter months? not the mindless fluff. So it?s generally good news to most of Canada paying attention to the policies and trends of the evolving web, that in 2012, Google has continued to refine it?s affectionate sounding Panda and Penguin algorithm updates, which seek to reward websites with quality content, while penalizing sites with tons of sketchy links, farmed in dark corners of the globe by black hatters with flashy promises of quick number one search engine rankings (warning: check the expiry date on these).

Google Gets Vocal

Google has taken other steps to increase the quality of the web by communicating more effectively with webmasters. The search giant is now generally revealing what its algorithm is looking for to determine a website?s quality score, while alerting site owners when they are going astray. In the first two months of 2012, Google sent more messages to webmasters warning them of possible violations that could hurt their site?s ranking through its Webmaster Tools than it did in all of 2011, and almost more than it has in all previous years combined, since it?s inception in 1996 SEO Year in Review (Search Engine Land).

These kinds of alerts are invaluable to help keep your site on a course for greater rankings and traffic. Webmaster Tools can also help to ensure that new content for your site is indexed quickly and accurately, and can now link to Google Analytics to provide SEO performance metrics, such as average position (ranking), clicks, and impressions.

Bing on the Rise

Bing was also fighting to get a grip on the quality of the sites that it served up in 2012 in an effort to gain a greater share of the core search market. In August, Bing?s search share rose to nearly 16% (WebProNews) and it?s Search Alliance with Yahoo accounted for over 25% of the search market.

Bing has its own version of Webmaster Tools to assist with indexing and measuring SEO performance on the Bing and Yahoo Search Engines (which replaced Yahoo Site Explorer in 2012). Bing actually introduced an important element of its toolset to disavow links earlier than Google?s Link Disavow Tool which came out in October 2012.

The tier one search engines, Google, Bing and Yahoo account for over 95% of the search market. They want to clean up the web, and empower webmasters to do their part. Previous to 2012, sites could artificially bolster their search engine rankings by building and amassing scores of links leading back to their site, regardless of their site?s actually quality, or even relevance to a search query. This led to all kinds of link farming and exchange schemes across the net, commonly known as black hat SEO, which is all about gaming the system to artificially and temporarily boost rankings, rather than by working hard to provide good quality content on a site that people actually find valuable.

Disavow Links

Now that Google?s Penguin has some teeth, sites that previously ranked well using black hat principles are tanking, often to the surprise and chagrin of the site owners, who may have hired an SEO to build links and improve rankings, without paying too much attention to how they were doing so. Google and Bing recognize that many site owners may not have been directly involved, or are at fault for the link profile associated with their site, and therefore may need some help to clean things up and give their site a fair shake in the search engines; hence, the disavow tools that came on the scene in 2012, which allow site owners to indicate that particular links, or links from certain domains should no longer be considered by a search engine.

Caution must be exercised with these powerful tools? you wouldn?t want to disavow links that are legitimately contributing to your site?s rankings. Google recommends that you do everything possible to remove an offending link yourself, such as contacting the site?s webmaster, or tracking down fake social media profiles that may be associated with your site. Regularly monitoring your site?s performance and link profile will also help alert you to the ominous signs of negative SEO.

Negative SEO (Search Engine Watch) generally refers to one site buying or building low quality links and pointing them at competitor to diminish their rankings.? Just dropping a few spots in the SERPs can have a seriously negative impact on the ability of a business (especially a small business) to garner quality web traffic.

Internet & Online Marketing Developments in 2012

LinkedIn Stock Way UP

LinkedIn is a rising star on the social media marketing and PPC scene. 2012 saw its membership rise to 190 million plus members in over 200 countries with the majority of its members consisting of business professionals and decision makers, powering the site to act as a recruitment engine. 2012 saw LinkIn stock (LNKD) increase an astounding 80% in share price over the course of the year.

Pinterest and Instagram

These two social media applications gained a lot of interest and momentum in 2012 and are certainly worth paying attention to in 2013. Pinterest, which lets users collect and ?pin? images, saw it?s North American user base grow from 1.27 million in 2011 to 29 million in 2012. Instagram, a photo sharing social app with creative filters, was acquired for what amounted to $747 million by Facebook (initially $1 billion, but a good chunk was in Facebook stock), saw a twenty-fold increase in traffic over last year. Where there is traffic, there is usually money, both of which are predicated to increase for Pinterest and Instagram in 2013, provided they can avoid potential pitfalls around privacy and content ownership.

This past week Instagram announced new terms of service in which it states that it now has the right to sell your photos. Early rumblings on Google Plus and other social networks indicate strong potential for a significant backlash over this issue. Even if the Facebook mothership can quell this storm (they just announced a retraction back the original TOS), the Instagram brand has already taken a hit.

Twitter Promoted Tweets Generating Revenue

2012 saw Twitter?s user base grow to 500 million, making it the second most popular social media platform on the planet and the number one app for real time transmission of unfolding events, such as the U.S. Presidential Election. Not only is Twitter popular and timely, it knows how to make money! Twitter is expected to make $260 million in 2012, compared to $140 million in 2011 from its ?Promoted Tweets? and the forecast trend for revenue in 2013 is up, up, up.

Facebook Mobile Ads Now Making Money

In October of 2012, Facebook hit 1 Billion users, making it the most popular social media platform on the planet. But with half of its user base on mobile, the looming question has been, will Facebook be able to make money on its mobile ads? Looks like Mark Zukerberg and his crew are figuring out how to bring in the dough. At the end of the third quarter, Facebook ad revenues grew 36% (Mashable) year over year to $1.08 billion, with $139 million (14% coming from mobile). Facebook is now making about $3 million per day from mobile advertising; however, the full impact of having ads increasingly pumped into our personal news feeds has yet to be measured. Watch for more Facebook controversy around personal privacy vs. generating ad revenue in 2013.

Google Adwords Dominates PPC Market

Google still rules the search engine marketing world with its flagship PPC advertising application Adwords, which generated about $14 billion in revenue in the third quarter of this year (that?s almost 24 times the historic powerball jackpot of $587.5 million that was drawn this past November). The Adwords platform itself saw a several enrichments to product listings, location targeting, offer extensions, mobile app extensions, video integration, and enhanced sitelinks, aimed at increasing the ROI potential of the PPC industry leader.

SEO & SEM in 2013

Most of this is actually good news for those SEO & SEM professionals out there who understand that methodology is as important as business results when it comes to internet and online marketing. The search-scape for 2013 looks increasingly competitive, as the major search engines tighten up quality control, and popular social media platforms seek to increase revenue, forcing businesses to fight harder for their web traffic.

Winning with honour is not only satisfying, but also sustaining? which is perhaps why the Samurai class was so dominant for many centuries in feudal Japan, and why Samurai Marketing in Ottawa is a good ally to help you fight for sustainable web traffic to drive your business. Contact for a FREE consult!

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Source: http://samuraimarketing.ca/2012-evolution-of-seo-sem-internet-online-marketing-ottawa/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2012-evolution-of-seo-sem-internet-online-marketing-ottawa

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A somber moment for 26 victims of Sandy Hook school massacre

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) ? The chiming of bells reverberated throughout Newtown on Friday, commemorating one week since the crackle of gunfire in a schoolhouse killed 20 children and six adults in a massacre that has shaken the community ? and the nation ? to its core.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy gathered with other officials on the steps of the town hall as the bell rang 26 times in memory of each life lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The gunman also killed his mother before the massacre, and himself afterward.

Officials didn't plan any formal remarks Friday morning, when similar commemorations were planned throughout the country.

Though the massacre does not rank as the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history ? that happened at Virginia Tech ? the tender age of the victims and the absence of any apparent motive has struck at Americans' hearts and minds. The gunman used a military-style assault rifle loaded with ammunition intended to inflict maximum damage, officials have said.

The White House said President Barack Obama planned to privately observe the moment of silence.

Just a week after the attack, gun control has taken a front burner in Congress, where previous mass shootings produced only minimal legislative reaction. Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday that the Obama administration would push to tighten gun laws.

The National Rifle Association plans a Friday morning news conference, its first public event since the shootings. The nation's largest gun-rights lobby with 4.3 million members has said it will offer "meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again."

When the bells tolled mournfully to honor the victims of last week's shooting rampage, they did so 26 times, for each child and staff member killed.

Rarely do residents mention the first person police said Adam Lanza killed that morning: his mother, Nancy, who was shot in the head four times while she lay in bed.

That makes 27.

A private funeral was held Thursday in New Hampshire for Nancy Lanza, according to Donald Briggs, the police chief in Kingston, N.H., where her funeral was held. About 25 family members attended the ceremony.

In Newtown, where makeshift memorials of stuffed animals, angels, candles, flowers and balloons have blossomed on patches of grass throughout town, there is only one noticeable tribute to Nancy Lanza. It's a letter written by a friend on yellow paper affixed, screwed and shellacked onto a red piece of wood.

"Others now share pain for choices you faced alone; May the blameless among us throw the first stone," it reads in part.

No one outwardly blames Nancy Lanza for the rampage. But authorities have said the gunman, her 20-year-old son Adam, used the guns she kept at their home to carry out a massacre that became the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history and has stirred lawmakers to call for gun control laws.

Nationwide, churches were to ring their bells Friday morning. Two gold balloons, one a 2, the other a 6, are tied to a bridge. Handwritten tributes mention 26 snowflakes. "26 angels will guide us," reads one.

The dearth of tributes to Nancy Lanza underscores the complicated mix of emotions surrounding her after the shooting.

In a small town where multiple funerals are taking place each day, where black-clad mourners stand in lines waiting to say goodbye to another child, many are incredibly angry at Nancy Lanza for not keeping her guns away from her son.

Some view her as a victim, but one whose guns were used to kill first-graders. And others think Nancy Lanza was an innocent victim, one who should be counted and included at memorials.

"It's a loss of life and, yes, her life mattered," said Christine Lombardi. "Yes, I do believe she should be included."

Others in Newtown are weary of the crush of media and have become reluctant to answer questions after a difficult week. But the subject of marking Nancy Lanza's death, along with those of the children and teachers killed by her son, seemed mainly to surprise two moms who stopped to place flowers at the memorial at Main and Sugar streets with their two grammar-school aged girls.

They paused, appeared bewildered, and looked at each other for a moment. Then one quietly said, "No, no," and they each took a girl's hand and led them away.

Newtown and environs weathered a fourth day of funerals Thursday as mourners laid to rest Catherine Hubbard, Benjamin Wheeler, Jesse Lewis and Allison Wyatt, all 6 years old; and Grace McDonnell, 7.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was one of the people to visit Newtown on Thursday, stopping by a firehouse.

Biden, who is overseeing the administration's response to last week's shooting, said he and Obama are "absolutely committed" to curbing gun violence in the United States.

"Even if we can only save one life, we have to take action," he said.

Gun-control measures have faced fierce resistance in Congress for years, but that may be changing because of the events in Connecticut, which shocked the nation.

After the shooting, Obama signaled for the first time that he's willing to spend significant political capital on the issue. Some prominent gun-rights advocates on Capitol Hill ? Democrats and Republicans alike ? have expressed willingness to consider new measures.

Investigators have said that Nancy Lanza, a gun enthusiast, visited shooting ranges several times and that her son also visited an area range.

Authorities say Adam Lanza shot his mother at their home and then took her car and some of her guns to the school, where he broke in and opened fire. A Connecticut official said Nancy Lanza was shot four times in the head with a .22-caliber rifle.

Adam Lanza was wearing all black, with an olive-drab utility vest, during the school attack. Investigators have found no letters or diaries that could explain the rampage.

Friends and acquaintances have described him as intelligent, but odd and quiet.

Friends said he would stare down at the floor and not speak when she brought him into a local pizzeria. They knew that he'd switched schools more than once and that she'd tried home schooling him. But while she occasionally expressed concern about his future during evenings at the bar, she never complained.

"I heard her as a parent. I always said that I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. But I thought, 'Wow. She holds it well,'" said Jon Tambascio, son of the pizzeria operator.

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Michael Melia, John Christoffersen and David Klepper in Newtown; Jim Fitzgerald in Katonah, N.Y.; and Frederic J. Frommer in Washington.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bells-toll-victims-one-week-shooting-143254939.html

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Olivia Black, Pawn Stars Cast Member, Fired Over Porn Past!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/olivia-black-pawn-stars-cast-member-fired-over-porn-past/

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Rimes defends her shaky 'X Factor' performance

By Kristin Dos Santos, E! Online

LeAnn Rimes completely stole the show on "X Factor" Wednesday night...and not in the way we're thinking she'd hoped!

The iconic songstress took to the stage with 13-year-old finalist Carly Rose Sonenclar for a duet to "How Do I Live," and stumbled right out of the gate, appearing to forget the words to her own hit song -- and falling off-key -- as she walked down the steps to the stage. It didn't get better from there, adding up to a live performance that was ... not her best, to put it lightly.?

More from E!: Is L.A. Reid regretting his decision to leave 'X Factor'?

So, of course we had to laugh when mentor Britney Spears called the duet "shockingly amazing." And Sonenclar, who looked horrified at one point during the song, thanked Rimes for making her feel "really comfortable."?

So what went wrong? A Fox rep for the series has no comment, and Rimes' rep has yet to respond to our request for comment.?

Rimes took to her Twitter today to comment on the performance: "In my 18 years of performing, I have never been anything but professional onstage. It is a shame that gossip and lies are overshadowing the performance of Carly, a very talented young girl. And while I have not given any media outlet a quote, if you want one, here it is 'It was an amazing opportunity to share this experience with Carly and I know I'll be watching for her to win tonight.' "?

Hmm.?

Thursday night, "X Factor's" big winner will be revealed ($5 million is at stake!) and we'll see if the Rimes duet has any impact on Sonenclar's fate.?

What did you think of the performance? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Related content:

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/12/20/16048765-leann-rimes-calls-her-shaky-x-factor-performance-professional?lite

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Dana White praises openly gay Liz Carmouche: ?It takes a brave person?

When Liz Carmouche steps into the octagon to fight Ronda Rousey for the UFC women's bantamweight belt, it will be a historic moment. Not only will UFC 157 feature the first UFC women's fight, it will also be the first time an openly gay fighter will fight in the UFC.

UFC president Dana White praised Carmouche, an ex-Marine, for coming out.

"There's a lot of gay athletes out there and athletes and actresses. It takes a brave person to come out and admit it because they're always afraid of what its going to do to their career or how people are going to treat them afterwards. I love what she did."

White came under fire in 2010 when he used a gay slur on one of his video blogs. He later apologized. When talking about Carmouche, he addressed his own reputation and shared his thoughts on same-sex marriage.

"I know I have the big ?homophobe' persona and people think I'm some homophobe. I'm the furthest thing from it. I think it's ridiculous it's 2013 and the government tells two people they can't marry each other. Who is the government to tell two people who say they love each other they can't be married? It's ridiculous."

Though it's not quite 2013, it's encouraging to hear White say not only that he supports Carmouche and same-sex marriage but that he hopes other fighters find the courage to come out, too.

Among the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA, there are no active and openly gay players. Retired athletes, like basketball player John Amaechi and football player Wade Davis, have come out after they stopped playing.

However, athletes like Carmouche show that the tide is turning and athletes are more comfortable with not hiding their sexuality. Openly gay athletes like diver Matthew Mitcham and Natasha Kai have competed in the Olympics. More and more athletes are speaking out in favor of LGBTQ rights.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/dana-white-praises-openly-gay-liz-carmouche-takes-154220757--mma.html

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