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Monday, September 27, 2010

When I’m not Writing … by Jeri Smith-Ready & Giveaway

 

 

Hello Everyone! I am really happy to have the fabulous Jeri Smith-Ready by my side today! She was in Toronto this last Saturday with the Smart Chicks Tour and I was so sad to miss it  =( I was really happy (and surprised) to discover that Jeri shares with me an unconditional love with a particular professional sport (mine is hockey though ^^). Without further introduction, please welcome warmly Jeri, author of multiple very successful series!

 

 

Zone Defense – When I’m Not Writing

ravensWhen Tynga asked me to guest-blog about what I do when I’m not writing, at first I was stumped. Almost everything I do involves writing. The current work-in-progress affects which books I read, which bands I listen to, and which movies I watch. I’m almost always “in the zone.”

Then it hit me. I have one thing in my life that has zero to do with books: football. NFL football, to be exact (although I developed an obsession with soccer this summer during the World Cup).

I grew up near DC, so I’m a lifelong Redskins fan, but I’ve spent the last half of my life in and around Baltimore. So my favorite team is, of course, the Ravens. How could any writer not love a team named after a character from a poem? My favorite player is linebacker Ray Lewis. His drive and energy level are superhuman—I’d love to have him give a pep talk every morning when I sit down at the computer!

Oops, almost talked about writing there. I could go on for pages about how professional sports is a lot like publishing, but this is hobby time.

I hedge my bets by rooting hard for several teams. That way there’s hopefully at least one score each week to make me happy. As I write this, the Ravens have just lost to the Bengals (rats!), but the Redskins are jeri-2looking pretty good against Houston. (EDITED TO ADD: Nope, they lost, too, but it was a great game.) In addition to my home teams, I’m also partial to the Packers, Patriots, and Saints (one   would have to be a cold-hearted snake not to love the Saints after what they’ve done for New Orleans).

Football appeals to me on all levels. It’s got the strategic/intellectual aspects of chess (I still don’t understand many of the different routes and patterns that the announcers seem to pick up on in an instant), the artistic aspects of ballet (I mean, seriously, some of those catches and end runs they make? Things of beauty.).

And I’ll be honest: I like the hitting. As long as no one gets hurt, of course.

As my family can tell you, football works me into an emotional frenzy. I cheer and cuss and stomp, occasionally getting on my knees during a long field goal for the win (then collapsing and pounding the floor when it goes wide). My cats and dog understand that Mommy is not yelling at them. They just watch me rage, then they blink and go back to sleep. jeri-1

The important thing is, football takes me out of the writing world. It also takes me out of the real world, where I worry about everything from the electric bill to global warming. It’s a pure, fun, immersive experience, untainted by creativity or politics.

(All that being said…I did once turn a real-life Ravens-Steelers game an important subplot point in my second vampire book, BAD TO THE BONE. It helped ease the pain of the Steelers 38-7 win, knowing it would ratchet up the tension in a potential love triangle via a strategically placed Speedo.)

So that’s what I do when I’m not writing (or sleeping): I watch, read about, and think about professional sports. Because it has nothing to do with anything, and for that, I love it.

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Jeri loves to hear from readers, so visit her at www.jerismithready.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jerismithready, or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jsmithready. Her next release will be the short story “Thief,” in the YA vampire anthology ETERNAL: MORE LOVE STORIES WITH BITE, coming November 1. Her most recent release is BRING ON THE NIGHT, #3 in the WVMP RADIO adult vampire series. Her debut YA novel, SHADE, was released in May 2010, with a sequel, SHIFT, coming May 2011.

About SHADE:

Love ties them together.
Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Read an excerpt of SHADE here

Read my review HERE.



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Now onto the Giveaway!

Jeri very generously offered a signed copy of Bring on the Night to one lucky reader, but she specifically specified that, and I quote, “anyone who disses the Ravens or Redskins is automatically disqualified. ;-)” lol

Bring on the Night

What's Blood Got to Do With It?

Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin seems to finally have it all. A steady job at WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll. A loving relationship with the idiosyncratic but eternally hot DJ Shane McAllister. A vampire dog who never needs shots or a pooper-scooper. And after nine years, it looks as if she might actually finish her bachelor's degree!

But fate has other plans for Ciara. First she must fulfill her Faustian bargain with the Control, the paranormal paramilitary agency that does its best to keep vampires in line. Turns out the Control wants her for something other than her (nonexistent) ability to kick undead ass. Her anti-holy blood, perhaps?

Ciara's suspicions are confirmed when she's assigned to a special-ops division known as the Immanence Corps, run by the Control's oldest vampire and filled with humans who claim to have special powers. To a confirmed skeptic like Ciara, it sounds like a freak fest. But when a mysterious, fatal virus spreads through Sherwood—and corpses begin to rise from their graves—Ciara will not only get a crash course in zombie-killing, but will be forced to put her faith, and her life itself, in the hands of magic.

Read an excerpt!

Wanna know how to win?

Simple!

This giveaway is open internationally (Thank you Jeri!)

Leave a comment to let us know if you are crazy for any sports, and if so, which team you root for.

and FILL THE FORM.

Ends October 11th, 2010.

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Thank you so much Jeri for taking the time to stop by. You are so awesome! I had a great time with you and those pictures of you totally cracked me up! I can’t wait to read Shift =D

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Enjoyed this post? There will be more “When I’m not writing…” post in the future!

Please visit This Page to find out who my future guests are, and a chance to suggest authors you would like to see featured!

Authors, you would like to visit and share with us?

Please email me at TyngaUF(a)gmail.com

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

75 People left their mark' :

  1. Jeri is an awesome story-teller and her YA book Shade is one of my favs so far. Some real heart wrenching moments as well as some nail biters too, Shift will only be even better! Can't wait!

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  2. I'm a bad Cdn I don't like hockey...or any sports really. I would much rather watch tv series/movies.

    Cassandra C

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  3. i love soccer, or what we call here in the UK FOOTBALL.. i support Aston Villa. but im from the US and i was a die-hard Colts fan. go INDY! :) <3

    my husband loves Formula 1 so i've gotten into that too... wow. so much stuff! hehe. :) great contest! :)

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  4. Hi Jeri!
    Thanks for a fun post.
    I love your WVMP books.
    Fun pictures too!
    I really enjoy hockey, but don't have a favorite team, just favorite players. (Secretly root for Toronto).
    :)
    All The Best,
    RKCharron

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  5. I'm not a huge sports fan. But I will cheer on the home teams like the Ottawa Senators.Or watch some f the olympics when they are on.

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  6. Great post!
    I like football, but I don't follow enough to know whats going on. I like Hockey a lot, and try to watch when my team is playing (Toronto!)

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  7. Those pictures are so funny, I love the one with Jeri flexing!
    I've always wanted to read Jeri's adult series, thanks for the opportunity!

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  8. I promise I won't diss either team! :)
    I love the WVMP series and can't wait to read Bring on the Night. I recently got Shade and am anxious to dig into to that one too. I've heard all great things!

    Thanks so much for the offer and the When I'm Not Writing feature is such a great idea!

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  9. I am not a diehard sports fan. But, I do like to watch Kentucky Wildcats basketball games on tv.

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  10. I´m not sports faan but some days I love soccer. Anyway Team Pumas UNAM (Mexico) & Germany football team :)

    Thanks for the giveaway

    ~Yelania

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  11. Great interview! I loved it, such a cool thing your doing, its interesting to know what authors do when they aren't writing.

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  12. I enjoyed the interview, it's great that you can be so passionate about sports, I'm sure it's a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I have zero interest in professional sports of any kind. Although attending a major league baseball game has always been fun, I haven't been to one in a long time.

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  13. Thanks Jeri! :D And don't worry no disses coming from me :)
    I'm not a huge sports fan to be honest, I watch some, but I'm not picky about which team. Of course, I'll root for my local teams, but I prett much watch some sports for the man candy ;)
    I do like to watch volleyball because I love playing it, but even the men's beach kind is the best, not only do they kick @ss, they are also shirtless. :)
    Thanks again! :D

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  14. Huge CO fan. So, it would be BRONCOS for the professional FB team. I do like the Ravens as they had one of my former Broncos member as their teammate for a bit (he came back to CO). :)

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  15. Does being a Steelers fan disqualify me? I almost get killed when I mention to my husband that I kinda like the Ravens, simply because they are named after the poem.

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  16. This was great hearing about Jerri. I love when you do this.

    I am a fan of hockey and sadly since the playoffs I am kinda torn on who to root for. I know I should root for Montreal but yet I am turning into a St Louis Blues fan because my fave player is now playing there. What to do?

    cindysloveofbooksarcATgmailDOTcom

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  17. Haha sorry not much of a sports fan :( I have nothing against the Ravens or Redskins though!

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  18. I'm not a huge sports fan but I always support England in the World Cup (boy was it bad this year). I really couldn't watch without cringing.

    k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

    thank you for making it international! i'd love to read this:)

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  19. Awesome post! I love these When I'm not writing posts! Great question selections Tynga!

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  20. I love Jeri's Books especially Wicked Game Series. Ive got Shade on my TBR Pile at home, Bring on the night looks like an awesome read :)
    paulazone@live.com

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  21. When I do watch baseball I root for the Yankees and anyone who beats the Red Sox.

    I did watch the World Cup, I rooted for the US, until we were cheated. (I am still upset about that.)

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  22. I'm a soccer lover. I used to play really well but since I haven't in a while, I'm not too good...I actually don't have a fave team but I do like Argentina!

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  23. I am a HUGE Notre Dame fan and drove 11 hours to go to the opening game of the season which is the only game they have won so far. I love Football season.

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  24. I love the post!

    I'm a soccer fan and here in Uruguay, I support Nacional


    Thanks for the giveaway! ^^

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  25. I Some times watch nascar.But realy into sports sorry.
    sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

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  26. I've always been a big baseball and football fan. I live in the SF Bay Area, so we've got SF and Oakland teams in both sports although the Oakland teams are perpetually broke and threatening to move elsewhere.

    jen at delux dot com

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  27. I live in Missouri so I usually root for the Chiefs, even though they usually suck.

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  28. Not a football fan at all! Love to watch Atlanta Braves baseball tho!!

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

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  29. Loved the pics! I'm not a big sports fan at all, though.

    swordsforfighting at yahoo dot com

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  30. This was such a fun interview to read because I am the crazy football fan in my family. My brother is the only other member who even watches the games but he doesn't jump around and yell at the players (and Umpires!) the way I do. I am a WVU fan and I am almost afraid to admit that my favorite team is the Steelers. :P I am so fanatic that a win makes my day but a loss can actually ruin my day.
    Thanks for the chance.(hope I still get considered, lol)

    waitmantwillie at hotmail dot com

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  31. Great giveaway. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  32. I'm not a big sports fan, but I watch when my mom visits. When that happens I watch hockey in the winter(Go Leafs) and baseball in the summer(Yeah Blue Jays).
    lynnflagler(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  33. LOVE football/soccer but weirdly only once every four years for World Cup. and when that comes it's Brazil all the way!
    PS Love this series- unique!

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  34. My husband and I are both big sports fans but being outside the US are sports are probably quite strange to you.

    We are mainly cricket fans and support our national team the Proteas.

    We also support a regional cricket team called the Warriors.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  35. I play netball and touch football but that's pretty much all the sport I play. Netball in winter and Touch in summer as for sporting teams I root for the Titans but they're aussie so you guys probably don't know about them.....

    callmeghostgirl@yahoo.com.au

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  36. I'm not a sports fan at all, but I don't diss any team. ;)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  37. I'm not a huge sports fan, but I like to support our local teams and I kinda like the Bengals as well.....

    Love to win your book!

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  38. I'm not really that much of a sports fan...
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    cwilliams127 at gmail dot com

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  39. Thank you for posting! :D I'm a huge martial arts fan, karate and judo especially.
    Thank you for this awesome giveaway!^O^

    Giada M.

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  40. Love football Gooo Longhorns!!!!!

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  41. I'm not a sports fan at all. But the photos are cute :)

    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

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  42. I'm not a huge sports fan, but when I go to a game I'm a home team rooter. Giants or 49ers baby!

    And loved Shift. It was fantastic. I can't wait for Shade!

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  43. OK, I have no business dissing anyone's team -- long term 49er fan **you know, 0 - 3**
    But my passion is baseball. Being a long, long, time SF Giants fan is finally paying off. In the drive! Game On!
    I love WVMP radio.
    linda @ gordonvalley .com

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  44. I am a HUGE baseball fan. I have two teams, which causes quite a bit of conflict. I am from MI, so of course, I love my Detroit Tigers.. but I always love the Chicago White Sox. They are my true loves. Not the Cubs, the Cubs are no good :)

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  45. Jeri Smith-Ready is an author with many faces, and that's great :)
    Thanks for making this internacional

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  46. I'm not really a big sports fan but I do enjoy watching the Olympics and the occasional soccer game someone else in my household happens to be watching one.

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  47. I love love love to swim and I'm kinda crazy over football. I love to go to the Stadium of my club and see them win! My club is Sporting Clube de Portugal... I guess you don't know them but their color is green and their symbol is a lion! What's not no love? =D
    And now let's hope I win this giveaway... Hehe! =D

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  48. I am not a sports fan either- i like to watch my kids play.
    audie(at)wickerness(dot)com

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  49. I am not a huge sports fan. Although when I was in high school I did love the 49ers. I used to watch it when they had Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, and Jeff Garcia (not all in the same years....lol). The only sport I actually do watch sporadically would be Tennis. I used to be a HUGE fan of Andre Agassi and Monica Seles.

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  50. I am a baseball fan, Atlanta Braves ;). I enjoy other sports too, but baseball is my biggest.

    Looking forward to reading Bring on the Night - ty for the great giveaway!

    Pam S
    pams00 @ aol.com

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  51. I love hockey! I live in Slovakia and it's pretty small country, but we were World Champions in Ice Hockey in 2002 :)
    Next year, Slovakia is hosting 2011 World Championship and I can't wait to be there!

    Judit P.

    judittten at gmail dot com

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  52. Not bog fans of team sports in this house but we are avid watchers of motor soprt (mainly Rally, Superbike & Motor GP) and another favourite is Snooker and I'm cheering for Ronnie O'Sullivan.

    eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com

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  53. I actually hate every kind of sport. Funnily enough I love the movies like Remember the Titans where a sport is the main theme...

    Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  54. Thanks for this giveaway and thw wonderful interview!!

    I used to be very much into soccer! I live in Greece so the teams I rooted for, you probably don;t know them..
    But I usually rooted for Panathinaikos and AEK! XD
    Erm and this is going to sound too girly, but I also liked to watch Figure skating and gymnastics! XD


    Kelly/ yvantis@hotmail.com

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  55. I LOVED Shade and the WVMP Radio Series ROCKS! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy of BOTN!!

    Cheers!
    Kate aka YzhaBella
    mleger0546(@)rogers(.)com

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  56. honestly, I'm not good at sports.

    but I do occasionally enjoy reading about sports.

    On squash I would say Nicol David .

    the rest I'm not very sure.

    regards,

    maidenhealer@hotmail.com

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  57. I'm a fan of Kentucky Wildcats basketball.

    Skk25@aol.com

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  58. I'm not a fan of any sport so I don't have a favorite team. I did support my kids when they were in sports but that's the extent of it. Love the pictures of Jeri.

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  59. I'm not a huge soports fan but I love the Soccer World Cup! I root for Germany xD

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  60. I'm not much of sports person so the best you could classify me is spectator sports :) But I play chess though. Unfortunately, not a lot of people around me do :( Playing against myself is boring... but does chess count as sports?

    Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/10/win-bring-on-night-at-tyngas-reviews.html

    Twitted: http://twitter.com/#!/cherrymischivus/status/26111758424

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  61. Im not a sport person or fan of any team.Great giveaway thank you very much!

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  62. i am not into sports, but my fiance more than makes up for it: he's a yankees and jets fan (though he bleeds more blue than green). he's passionate about his teams the way i am about reading....which is a lot!

    k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com

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  63. I enjoy watching rhythm gymnastics but don't root for anyone in particular.

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  64. I don't like football (soccer) and this is a big problem if you are spanish, because sport is soccer and nobody understand that you don't have a favourite team (don't talk about not liking the sport at all... or don't watching the Final World Cup)

    Glups!

    Go, Spain, Go!

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  65. I'm not really much of a sports fan so I don't exactly have a favorite team. I did enjoy watching my classmates play baseball and basketball back in high school and I rooted for our varsity team during college. ^^

    vesipisaroita [at] gmail [dot] com

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  66. I'm personally not a fan of any specific team, but I do watch sports occasionally (basketball, football, soccer, badminton...) and I root for the game in general, as in whoever makes a really cool move/goal I cheer for XD;

    ninefly(at)gmail(dot)com

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  67. I enjo watching and playing volleyball but I'm not fanatic about it nor do I root for someone in particular!

    vicky.vak8(at)gmail.com

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  68. Well, it has come to this...I love the NFL, and my Pittsburgh Steelers!!! I'm just going to ignore the whole ravens thing and just consider you a redskins fan.

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  69. I'm really not a sports fan, but I'll always root for my Spartans cause I'm a loyal alumni.

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

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  70. I'm a huge tennis and football (soccer in the US/Canada) fan. In tennis I root for the spanish players, especially Nadal and in football my team is Real Madrid and the spanish national team.

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  71. I'm not really into sports, so I don't have a team that I can laud. However, when I lived in Phoenix I used to love going to Diamondbacks games. Baseball is technically still the national pastime, you know. (Does that count? lol)

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  72. RED SOX!!!

    PATRIOTS!

    Other than that? Not so much.

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  73. Hi

    I love the post:-)
    I'm into swimming so I can not pick a team, but I swim myself and I love to watch it in television too.

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  74. It elaborates a general wisdom of living vulnerable, which gives one lot of life-learnings, in the context of business. The frameworks are applicable to start-ups, traditional big businesses, and various other types of organizations also. make a wikipedia page

    ReplyDelete