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Born on June 19, 1979, Dirk Nowitzki is a native of Germany and currently plays for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. After applying early for entry into the 1998 NBA Draft, Nowitzki was selected ninth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. He was immediately traded, however, to the Dallas Mavericks. He struggled during his early career, as many athletes do, but has since risen to become one of the top players in the league.

During his NBA rookie season, Dirk Nowitzki averaged 8.2 points per game. The following year, during the 1999-2000 season, found Dirk finishing second in the NBA's Most Improved Player voting. That season, he played in each of the 82 regular season games and averaged 17.5 points per game, which was more than double his average for the previous season.

By the time the 2000-2001 season rolled around, Dirk Nowitzki became the first player in team history to be selected to the All-NBA team. At that time, he became the team's leading scorer with an average of 21.8 points per game. In the 2001-2002 season, Nowitzki's success continued to grow as he averaged 23.4 points per game. During a bout of misfortune, Dirk Nowitzki suffered an injury to his left ankle that kept him from participating in six games. This marked the first time he had ever missed a game due to injuries.

During the 2002-2003 NBA season, Dirk Nowitzki scored a team-high average of 25.1 points per game. In addition, he averaged career-high assists and steals. In December 2002, Nowitzki missed two games due to yet another ankle injury. This one, however, affected the right ankle, which was sprained during a December 10 game against the Clippers. When the 2003-2004 season was underway, Dirk Nowitzki was averaging 21.8 points per game. During a November competition, a right ankle sprain took him out of the game after only seven minutes of play. This injury led to five games being missed.

Today, Dirk Nowitzki averages 26.6 points per game, stands 7' tall and weighs 245 lbs. He is a forward that can often be intimidating to opponents as he not only has the height to earn points, but to rebound with ease. Away from the court, Dirk Nowitzki enjoys reading and playing the saxophone. His mother and father, both skilled in sports, have two children. Dirk's sister, Silke, works for the NBA in International TV. His father, Joerg, played handball and his mother, Helen, was a star player for the German women's national basketball team. Just before joining the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki served a mandatory term with the German Army from September 1997 through June 1998.

Fans who would like to request a signed photo or simply send Dirk Nowitzki their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his NBA franchise team. If you are requesting an autograph, be sure to include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) along with your request. It is recommended that fans not send an item that they could not afford to lose, such as prized possessions or limited edition collectibles. There is never a guarantee that an athlete will be able to accommodate every autograph request, which is why the most common items to send include a blank index card, trading card and/or photo. Letters and requests should be mailed to:

Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks
The Pavilion
2909 Taylor St.
Dallas, TX 75226

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Earvin Johnson Jr., known simply as "Magic" to millions of basketball fans all over the world, has been one of the NBA's best players and biggest winners. Standing 6-9, Johnson revolutionized the point guard position with his pure passing and all-around versatility.

Johnson was a winner at every level of his career, starting in high school and including college, professional and international. At Michigan State University, he injected a much-needed dose of enthusiasm and passion into the college hoops scene, eventually leading his school to the 1979 National Championship over Indiana State which was led by another legendary basketball player, Larry Bird. Bird would become Johnson's closest rival throughout their respective careers. Their college championship showdown became the most watched college basketball game in history.

Johnson later joined the Los Angeles Lakers and was their heart and soul for 13 seasons, leading them to five NBA championships. He was named to the NBA All-Star team 12 times, league MVP three times and NBA Finals MVP three times. In 2002, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and was voted to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996.

In 1991, Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive and retired from the NBA. He was among the first sports celebrities and one of the most popular public figures to ever do so.

Johnson earned his nickname back in high school when he was an All-American at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan. He was 15 at the time and he had an amazing game where he finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 16 assists. That inspired a local sports writer named Fred Stabley to christen Johnson as Magic. In his senior year, Johnson led Everett to the state championship (27-1 win-loss record).

When he entered the NBA in 1979, the league suffered from a poor image and was ranked third in popularity behind the NFL and MLB. But Johnson's rivalry with Bird, who had joined the Boston Celtics, revitalized the NBA. In their first three years in the league, the duo produced two championships - two for Magic and one for Bird. Before they were done, the dynamic duo would have eight NBA championships between them - five for Magic and three for Bird.

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1. Run every day

Running 3 miles every day is a great cardiovascular workout and will help keep you at your peak fitness. Run uphill as much as possible. At around 2 miles, find a steep hill and sprint up it for about 20-30 meters then turn round and walk back down. Repeat this 5 to ten times before finishing the run. If you do this every day you will find you can play at your best for longer because you'll be stronger and fitter.

2. Do exercises to increase your speed

Find a drop of around 150cm or stand on a barrel or safe object of a similar height. Jump off, landing on both feet in a squatting position and stand up straight as quickly as possible. Make sure you are well warmed up and stretched before doing this exercise to avoid injury. This exercise will strengthen quick reflex muscles in the legs, improving speed.



3. Learn to play with both feet

Most footballers play far better with one foot than the other, it's difficult to improve your touch with your stronger foot. Concentrating on your weaker foot is a quick win as bigger improvements can be made with less work. Kick a ball against a wall using only your weaker foot. Have a scratch game in training where everyone plays only with their weaker foot. It doesn't take much effort and you will notice results within a short space of time.

4. Learn a new trick

When you see a new trick by a professional, watch it closely, over and over again before attempting it. Online video is good for this purpose. Spend 10 minutes every day learning and perfecting the trick. Don't try it in a game until you can do it perfectly every time and don't overuse it or your opponents will figure you out.

5. Learn from the professionals

Watch professional footballers play and copy them. Sounds obvious but you'd be amazed how few players do this. Pick a player who plays in the same position as you and watch him closely, learn his tricks and pay attention to his positions when not on the ball. The player you choose should be someone you look up to and aspire to. The player I liked to learn from was Franck Sauzee, the ex-France, Marseilles and Hibernian midfield player. An excellent all round player who was always at the peak of his game.

Finally, don't be put off if you don't become Maradona over night. It takes time to become a great player and improving every part of your game gradually is the important thing. Sticking to a good routine and training properly are the key things to remember.

Posted By www.footballsouvenirstore.com

 

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