wrav!ngs 2008 sep posse

1
82 02.01 august|september 08 wray.vings Many things have changed over the last 20 years in the world of athletic training. Workout gear used to be clunky and gray. Today, dry-fit clothing comes in “breathable” material in every color of the rainbow. Even the length of shorts is dramati- cally different. Go back and look at some pictures from the Leonard Hamilton era. The style was short and tight. And by “tight,” I don’t mean “cool.” I mean snug. Canvas Converse used to be the foot- wear of choice. Okay, there was the choice between the colors of black and white, but that was it. Now the choices are endless. (Have you been in a sports store lately?) Industry giant Nike dominates the land- scape. New Balance, Reebok and Asics all build shoes designed to propel you into the next stride. Perhaps one day they will invent shoes so efficient, the shoes can do the running for you. Even the athletes have changed. They seemingly defy physics by being bigger and faster than ever. As the Olympic Games in Beijing demonstrated this summer, world records were made to be broken. One thing that has not changed is the need for replenishing your system with water. The harder you work, the more you need it. Gatorade, POWERAde or good old- fashioned, quality H 2 0 will do the trick. As Bobby Boucher taught all of us, you should never underestimate the need and impor- tance of water during physical exertion. When I played football, the intelli- gence of the day suggested water was bad for you. It made you weak. That must have been before they invented dehydra- tion. Football practice was a fluid-starved gauntlet of strenuous activity. We used to pray for a mirage during two-a-days. A tall cool bottle of Gatorade was a wild fantasy. It seems all coaches subscribed to Paul “Bear” Bryant’s school of thought when it came to football — no nonsense, no mercy, no water. Salt pills- yes. Water-No. Now that I think about it, what were we supposed to wash those salt pills down with? Today, our football players are encour- aged to hydrate themselves before, during and after practice. The wisdom of the day indicates cramps are prevented by drinking proper fluids many hours prior to physical activity. It makes you wonder what we will know 20 years from now that will make our present-day logic look foolish. So the next time you are thirsty, it’s ok to crack open a Gatorade. There is lemon- lime, grape and a host of other flavors. Of course, we prefer you drink Orange. KYLE WRAY DRINK ORANGE YOUR

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Page 1: WRAV!NGS 2008 Sep POSSE

8202.01 august|september 08

wray.vings

Many things have changed over the last 20 years in the world of athletic training. Workout gear used to be clunky and gray.

Today, dry-fi t clothing comes in “breathable” material in every color of the rainbow.

Even the length of shorts is dramati-cally different. Go back and look at some pictures from the Leonard Hamilton era. The style was short and tight. And by “tight,” I don’t mean “cool.” I mean snug.

Canvas Converse used to be the foot-wear of choice. Okay, there was the choice between the colors of black and white, but that was it. Now the choices are endless. (Have you been in a sports store lately?) Industry giant Nike dominates the land-scape. New Balance, Reebok and Asics all build shoes designed to propel you into the next stride. Perhaps one day they will invent shoes so effi cient, the shoes can do the running for you.

Even the athletes have changed. They seemingly defy physics by being bigger and

faster than ever. As the Olympic Games in Beijing demonstrated this summer, world records were made to be broken.

One thing that has not changed is the need for replenishing your system with water. The harder you work, the more you need it. Gatorade, POWERAde or good old-fashioned, quality H20 will do the trick. As Bobby Boucher taught all of us, you should never underestimate the need and impor-tance of water during physical exertion.

When I played football, the intelli-gence of the day suggested water was bad for you. It made you weak. That must have been before they invented dehydra-tion. Football practice was a fl uid-starved gauntlet of strenuous activity.

We used to pray for a mirage during two-a-days. A tall cool bottle of Gatorade

was a wild fantasy. It seems all coaches subscribed to Paul “Bear” Bryant’s school of thought when it came to football — no nonsense, no mercy, no water. Salt pills-yes. Water-No. Now that I think about it, what were we supposed to wash those salt pills down with?

Today, our football players are encour-aged to hydrate themselves before, during and after practice. The wisdom of the day indicates cramps are prevented by drinking proper fl uids many hours prior to physical activity. It makes you wonder what we will know 20 years from now that will make our present-day logic look foolish.

So the next time you are thirsty, it’s ok to crack open a Gatorade. There is lemon-lime, grape and a host of other fl avors. Of course, we prefer you drink Orange.

KYLE WRAY

DRINKORANGEYOUR