Sports Authority, the biggest United States sporting-goods retailer, is in the process of buying out Gart Sports. It has been a transition over the last several years that have Sports Authority attempting to add to its already large chain. In several states there remains a few Gart Sports, but for the most part the company once known as Gart Sports has become extinct.
Sports Authority and Gart Sports are sporting good stores that sell anything and everything that deals with sports. You can find sports equipment, shoes, outdoor supplies and fitness equipment. As with any retail store, the supply that is in the store depends on the location and size of the specific store. However, the transition of Gart Sports to Sports Authority will increase the products offered and make the sporting good store more nationally known.
Gart Sports for the most part has been a mid-west chain providing local services and another home for many. After talking to many customers it is apparent that they are afraid of their local company becoming just another nationally known chain. What is in store for the future is unknown, but at the time being there have been no drastic changes.
Despite the name change, the products have remained the same and many of the corporate office staff has remained the same. So what is the change going to affect you may be wondering?
By Gart Sports becoming Sports Authority, the amount of products offered and the number of store locations is going to increase. The products that were originally offered by Gart Sports will remain, but there will be a larger stock of those products with new items to choose from as well. Also, because it is a national chain there will be much more advertising and promotional events going on.
The number of commercials on TV is gradually increasing and events held at the store to draw in shoppers are happening more often. Pro athletes such as NFL stars and NBA stars are being scheduled more consistently to sign autographs with the hope of bringing in new shoppers and returning customers as well. Other events include MTVs reality show Real World being filmed in Denver, Colorado over this past summer.
While there are still some Gart Sports stores around, little by little the stores are dispersing. Despite the worry many customers have of their local sporting-goods store becoming a nationally known large chain, the products and employees have remained the same for the time being. What the future holds for the transition of Gart Sports to Sports Authority is promising with more stores and a larger selection to choose from.
Archive for April, 2010
How to Buy a New Suspension Fork for a Hardtail Mountain Bike
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010About a year ago I purchased an entry level hardtail mountain bike. At the time I did not want to spend a lot of money and I did not want poor quality. So I purchase a bike that had a good frame and basic components.
After riding for a year I have decided that I want to improve the comfort and control of my bike on the trail. Therefore I made the decision to upgrade my front suspension fork on my hardtail mountain bike.
My initial research concluded that there are a lot of different brands, types and sizes forks on the market so I conceded knew I needed help. After all, suspension forks are expensive and I didn’t want to waste my money.
After talking to different rides, employees at a few bike shops, reading article and posting questions online I put together a couple of bullet points to consider when buying a front suspension fork.
Determine if your bike has the geometry to support a suspension fork. If it does have the correct geometry try to determine the maximum height fork it can accommodate. I almost bought a fork with 160mm of travel but the seller convinced me not to buy it because he believed my bike did not have the correct geometry. After checking with the factory I determined that he was correct.
Consider your riding style. Are you a cross country, down hill or a dirt jump rider. Make sure you buy a fork that suites your style of ride. This will help prevent you from buying more fork then you need.
Determine your budget and stick to it. Suspension forks can vary in price and can be very expensive. However if you ride often spending a little more on a fork might be warranted.
Determine the size of the bikes head tube. The size of the tube could limit your selections. Is your head tube 1 inch or 1 1/8 inches, etc?
Consider buying a suspension fork that is adjustable. Some forks are adjustable at the head and some have a pop lock adjuster that mounts on the handlebars. The adjustable function will accommodate different riding terrains.
Determine if you need to buy new parts to install your new fork. Do you need a new headset, stem or brakes?
Consider the installation charges of a new fork. If you plan on installing the fork yourself you will need to press on a bearing and potentially cut the fork tub. This could result in additional tools and time so you want to weigh your options.
Find out what your friends are riding and ask them their opinion on brand and options. Ask them if you can ride their bike to test out their fork.
Do you want to buy new or used? Some riders buy great bikes, immediately upgrade them and never use the original parts. You can find new or near new parts on Bike Servant which lists mountain bike classifieds containing bikes for sale, bike parts and race events.
Keep in mind list above will help you get started in your decision making process and there are more items to consider as you explore your options.
The tips listed above will hopefully help you narrow down your choices before you purchase a new fork. Good luck and see you on the trail.
Independent Professional Baseball Teams: What They Are
Friday, April 23rd, 2010You may have recently heard about an independent baseball team near where you live, or near where you were traveling. If so, you may have wondered what makes a team “independent” and if it is worth your money to go watch that team.
An independent professional baseball team is a team which plays in a professional baseball league that is not affiliated with any Major League organization or the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which is now named (officially) Minor League Baseball. These teams have complete control over the players they sign, the personnel they hire, and their players can be signed by any “affiliated” team in Minor League Baseball.
Occasionally, an independent baseball player may make it to a Major League Baseball roster after having started his career in the independent baseball leagues. Many players who make it to a Major League roster after having spent time with an independent baseball team usually had previous Major League, or high-level Minor League experience prior to joining a Major League Baseball roster.
For the 2009 season, nearly 60 independent teams fielded a team in 8 independent leagues. The teams play in the U.S. and Canada. There are independent baseball teams in the Northeast, Quebec, Calgary, California, the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and the Dakotas, just to name a few regions. The players can range from just out of college, former “affiliated” minor league players who were released, players who could be in the minors but opted to play closer to home for family reasons, former Major League players, and occasionally international players. Many teams have managers and coaches whom have previous Major League Baseball experience.
The question you may still have, however, is if an independent baseball team is worth your time and money. In most markets this is a “yes.”
Here are just some of the reasons why:
Hopefully this article gives you a better understanding of independent baseball and helps you make a better decision for your entertainment dollar.