First Look: The 2004-05 NBA ScheduleWritten by Dave Fitzpatrick
Continued from page 1
December 14, 2004 - Knicks at Nets before New Year looks pretty innocent on paper, but chances are Tim Thomas doesn't feel same way. Thomas is still bitter over a flagrant foul by New Jersey's Jason Collins in last year's playoffs and has vowed revenge. Thomas never got a chance to deliver his payback in playoffs and who knows if he'll cool down by time this December meeting rolls around. January 20, 2005 - Tracy McGrady heads back to Orlando to face his old team. If you're playing fantasy basketball and you can update your roster daily, I'd think about adding T-Mac right about this time of year. It wouldn't surprise anyone if he drops 40 or even 50+ against his former team. We'll also get a look at how Francis, Mobley, Dwight Howard and young Magic are progressing. February 13, 2005 - Kenyon Martin will lead Nuggets against New Jersey. No bad blood, here, but it's always interesting to see a guy like K-Mart return to his old city. You've got to wonder if Jason Kidd will be still a New Jersey Net when this one rolls around. March 15, 2005 - It's too bad we have to wait until middle of March to see Carlos Boozer return to Cleveland, but better late than never, right? The city of Cleveland isn't going to forget. If Boozer were to wait five years before stepping foot in Gund Arena again, I'm willing to bet he'd get booed. It's going to be pretty ugly up there. Now, why isn't this game scheduled to be on national TV? To add to interest factor, Lebron might be positioning Cavs for a late-season playoff push. April 20, 2005 - It's impossible to know exactly what playoff situation is going to be late in year, but Spurs at Wolves on last day of season sure does look interesting.

Dave Fitzpatrick is the manager of http://www.hoopsavenue.com
| | Geocaching: A Great Way To Get OutdoorsWritten by Chuck Fitzgerald
Continued from page 1
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Armed with a GPS and coordinates, how tough can it be? In an urban area, easy access is typically available in way of roads and trails. But what about on a mountain? What if there aren’t roads nearby? It’s entirely possible to be a few hundred feet from something and not be able to reach it (across a river or two hundred feet below cliff you’re on are good examples). After you try to find a few caches, you’ll understand a number of nuances of actually finding cache. That’s fun part. Once you find cache, there are a couple of simple rules. Sign logbook and if you take something from cache, be sure to leave something. But what about placing a cache? That’s fun too. Just be sure to follow rules as outlined at www.geocaching.com. Once you’re a seasoned geocacher, you’ll try your hand at travel bugs, geo-teaming and benchmark hunting. If you have only a couple hours to search for a cache, try to find one that is close by. If you have a couple days, take a family trip and make an overnight adventure out of it. Using your GPS along with your sense of adventure, you are bound to spend more time out of doors with people you enjoy. What could be better? Get Outdoors!

Chuck Fitzgerald is Owner and President of Phoenix, Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online store providing backcountry specialty gear and educational information to outdoor enthusiasts. Visit www.BackCountryToys.com to receive the free newsletter "FreshAir” or call (800) 316-9055.
|