Blog

It is time for fancy no-look passes, buzzer beaters, walk-ons becoming stars, shots of despondent college freshmen in the stands and of course, that “One Shining Moment” when the champions of college basketball are crowned. That’s right, March Madness, one of the most exciting sports events of the year, is finally back!  Besides the action on the court, March Madness is known for mass participation in pools. Friends, coworkers, the girls at the salon, your church group, your prison shuffleboard team - everybody is filling out a bracket. While the basketball and pools are all well and good, there is still something missing. Who among us has not thought, while watching a mid-major from nowhere upset Duke, “I wish this helped me save money on pumps somehow.” Well fear not, because that moment is here. This year we’re introducing a great way to get discounts on pumps while also enjoying college basketball. We call it PUMP MADNESS. What Is Pump Madness If you’ve ever filled out a bracket before, you know that there are four regions (East, South, Midwest and West) consisting of 16 teams each. Each region is further subdivided into two groups or "pods" of eight teams each. You can see a visual representation in the official NCAA bracket here: Each pod is separated into a different colored box for your convenience and to help you visualize the concept. We made our own bracket, but with pumps instead of basketball teams. One pump type was assigned to represent each pod of teams. So there are eight different pump types (sump, transfer, sewage, booster, well, condensate, grinder and effluent) representing eight different pods. Now that you understand the relationship between the pods and the pumps, the savings come into play at the end of the tournament, when the winner is crowned. Whichever team cuts down the nets, will also create a discount at PumpProducts.com for the pump type of their regional pod. For instance, if top seeded Virginia (from the South 1 Sump Pump region) finally puts its tournament demons to rest and wins it all, PumpProducts.com will offer a 5% discount on all sump pumps in our online catalog. If the North Carolina Tar Heels (West 2 Effluent Pump region) repeat as champions, there will be a 5% discount on all effluent pumps, and so on. We thought of matching all 64 teams with 64 pump models but thought that may too ambitious. Maybe for future tournaments. The discount cuts across all brands and will be in effect for a full week after the championship game (April 3-April 10, 2018). There is no minimum order threshold and PumpProducts.com will reveal how to apply the discount after the championship, so stay tuned. Here's the full list of pump regions and the teams represented by each pump: -SUMP PUMP REGION (SOUTH 1): Virginia, UMBC, Creighton, K-State, Kentucky, Davidson, Arizona, Buffalo -TRANSFER PUMP REGION (SOUTH 2): Miami, Loyola of Chicago, Tennessee, Wright St., Nevada, Texas, Cincinnati, Georgia St. -SEWAGE PUMP REGION (EAST 1): Villanova, Radford, Va. Tech, Alabama, West Virginia, Murray St., Wichita St., Marshall -BOOSTER PUMP REGION (EAST 2): Florida, St. Bonaventure, Texas Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas, Butler, Purdue, Cal State Fullerton -WELL PUMP REGION (MIDWEST 1): Kansas, UPenn, Seton Hall, N.C. State, Clemson, New Mexico St., Auburn, Charleston -CONDENSATE REMOVAL PUMP REGION (MIDWEST 2): TCU, Syracuse, Michigan St., Bucknell, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, Duke, Iona -GRINDER PUMP REGION (WEST 1): Xavier, Texas Southern, Missouri, FSU, Ohio State, South Dakota St., Gonzaga, UNC-Greensboro -EFFLUENT PUMP REGION (WEST 2): Houston, San Diego St., Michigan, Montana, Texas A&M, Providence, North Carolina, Lipscomb You can also see if there are any storylines that associate a pump with a certain team or region. Wouldn't it be fitting if Kansas won a well pump discount for everyone who relies on well water in rural areas March Madness becomes April Savings The purpose of Pump Madness is to give our customers the hope of pump savings while they follow along with March Madness. Knocked out of your office pool on the first day The old alma mater let you and the rest of the Class of 1983 down again Never fear, because you’ll still have a reason to follow  the tournament. Just root for the team championed by the pump you need. Whether you're a homeowner who has been waiting for a price drop to buy that backup sump pump or a building manager thinking of buying new grinder pumps in bulk for your sewage system, pay attention! This could be an opportunity for great savings. Technically, the action doesn't really get going until the Elite Eight next weekend, but we wanted to give you a little taste of the excitement beforehand. You can enjoy the first weekend of the tournament without stressing about the pump you need and you don’t even have to make any picks! That's the beauty of Pump Madness. You don't have to do anything but be patient, watch the games and root for your favorite teams (or pumps). So get into gear; Pump Madness is here! Pump Products sales specialists are standing by to help you find the right pump or part, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

In the age of rapid and expansive ecommerce, it can sometimes be hard to know who to trust. The product pictures you see online is merely a pixelated simulacrum of the real thing; the words you read describing the product just a collection of 0s and 1s. For all you know, everything you view or purchase online could be a surreptitious attempt to download poisonous malware to your computer. In the old days, you'd walk or bike to the old corner store, say hello to Buck behind the counter and pickup your product. You could touch it, smell it, feel the texture, the weight and shape of the thing. Now you just click a button, sit and weight and hope the void answers you back. It's not just ecommerce. All over the globe, in every possible industry or enterprise, the machine keeps building while mankind stares blankly at our screens, bathed in a warming glow that leaves us insensate, mute and apathetic. We will not colonize the stars; our drones will. What I'm saying is that it's still important to have a human touch even in this crazy technologically fueled era. Human interaction is good for the soul and brain and it allows for things like context, nuance and extenuating circumstances. This is especially the case when you're handing over your hard earned money in exchange for a product. You want to know that the person you're buying from knows and what he or she is talking about. Pumps are perhaps the most pertinent example of an absolutely necessary product that many people do not understand. Trying to buy online can be confusing as well, because many pumps look the same and have similar operating parameters. That's why our staff of knowledgeable and dedicated application engineers are so important. These brave and handsome men talk to customers and get to know the inner workings of a system to ensure that everyone gets the right pump. In order to get to know the people you're talking to, Pump Products Films™ is creating short videos introducing you to our application engineers. Created by the legendary auteur director "Mike," theses videos will offer you a raw, bracing, no-holds barred look at the life of a Pump Products application engineer. At the end you will emerge changed and better for the experience. All in a minute or less! Here are the first two videos in the series: Nick is one of our longest-serving and most experienced team members. He has an extensive background in pumps and plumbing, as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of parts, models and pump series. Nick always makes sure to take detailed notes on any case and always follows up with customers promptly. He is considered one of the "go-to" guys in the office. Lee is well-known for his witty sense of humor and excellent phone manner. He puts customers at ease and lets them know he can be trusted to get them the pump they need. If you're looking for a laugh and nice conversation with your pump order, call up our man Lee. Both Nick and Lee or any of our talented application engineers are ready and eager to help customers get the pumps they need. Watch out for more of these special "meet the team" videos and get ready to experience a world you never could have possibly imagined. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-420-0800 to speak to an expert today.

The leaves are falling, the wind is blowing and the night darkness seems to come earlier and earlier everyday. You know what that means: it's fall and also time for MLB's World Series, also known as the Fall Classic. The best-of-seven series is always a special part of the American sports calendar and has produced some of the most seminal and memorable moments in sports. After a 162 game regular season and two playoff rounds, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros have emerged triumphant as the representatives of their respective leagues. For the Dodgers, "The Best Team Money Can Buy," this World Series appearance was a long time coming. The well-heeled team has cultivated a (perhaps unfair) reputation as a bunch of overpaid chokers as they flamed out to arguably less talented teams. This year, however, the boys in blue have powered past any doubts, dismissing the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS and then making the defending champion Chicago Cubs old news in the NLCS. It's been a long wait for loyal Dodgers fans, who have been waiting since 1988 to see their team in the World Series. That's right - one of the proudest, richest franchises in baseball hasn't been to the game's biggest stage in over a quarter century.  That was the year of the "I don't believe what I JUST saw!" Kirk Gibson home run to boot. The Astros have been to the World Series more recently (2005) but that was a completely different organization with a different identity - they were still in the National League. Houston has had an interesting trajectory the last few years. The organization intentionally put bad teams on the field in an effort to stockpile high draft picks. Then armed with young stars, Houston went from bad to good very quickly. Amazingly, the rebuild is right on schedule; Sports Illustrated even ran a cover story in 2014 predicting that the Astros would win the World Series this year. And after thumping the Boston Red Sox and narrowly surviving in seven games against the Yankees, they look ready to fulfill the prophecy. MLB's postseason format has often resulted in wild card teams and regular season underachievers reaching the World Series. But we have two juggernauts clashing this year. Indeed it is the first World Series to feature two 100-win teams since 1970. It should be quite a show. Hitting In the postseason, the Dodgers have largely been driven by the hot bats of Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig. Turner is a former Mets castoff while Puig has gone from future star to malcontent washout to solid contributor in the span of a few years. Turner and Puig have perhaps taken some of the pressure of young Dodgers' stars like Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor. The Astros are powered by likely MVP and fan favorite, Jose Altuve. The 5'6" Altuve's diminutive stature, in comparison to other major leaguers, has always been the source of entertainment, but recently it's his dominant play that's drawing more attention. He's backed up by budding Puerto Rican superstar Carlos Correa. George Springer, Alex Bregman, Evan Gattis and Josh Reddick round out things for Houston. Edge: Push Pitching Two of the best pitchers of recent generations are the headliners. Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) keeps cementing his claim as maybe the greatest, most dominant pitcher of all time. Justin Verlander (Astros) has shown remarkable resilience, returning to form after it looked like he was past his best at the tail end of his stint with the Detroit Tigers. His clutch game seven performance against the Yankees, in the ALCS, was key to the Astros hopes. These two superstars won't matchup until a possible game 5 or later if at all; same goes for second line stars Yu Darvish (Dodgers) and Dallas Keuchel (Astros). But which pitcher starts isn't as important these days; it's all about bullpen management now. Here, the Dodgers have a clear edge: Kenley Jansen might be the best closer in basebal,l and the other bullpen stalwarts (Tony Watson, Brandon Morrow, Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields) are pretty good as well. Houston has no such answer and their starters have generally thrown more pitches, and pitched more innings, than other postseason teams' starters. Big Edge: Dodgers The Pumphead Pick: Dodgers in Seven Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

Happy October sports fans! It’s time for some baseball, the grand old game and the true gentleman’s pastime!  Specifically, it’s time for the MLB playoffs in the run up to the World Series later this month. The AL Wild Card Game is tonight, while the NL Wild Card game is tomorrow (Wednesday). If you’ve seen those incessant commercials, you know that “OCTOBER. MEANS. BASEBALL.” The baseball regular season is long (162 games!) and grueling but waiting for the playoffs is the hardest part. But now, the playoffs are here and that means every pitch, every hit and every out means so much more. 10 teams enter and only one team will emerge victorious. A quick reminder on the format of these games, which are the same in both leagues.  A one game wild card playoff will determine which team advances to the LDS to play the league’s top seed, while the other two division winners face off. The winners of the LDS advance to the LCS and the winners of the LCS advance to the World Series. Each LDS is a best of five, while both the LCS and World Series are best of seven. See here for the full TV schedule and how to watch: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-postseason-schedule-heres-watch-192246831.html Let’s dive into the previews. AL Wild Card Game: Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees Since 2002, the Twins have played 123 games against the Yankees… and have won 33 of them. In case you’re not good at math, I can tell you that is not a very good record. Still, anything can happen in a one-game situation so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Twins win. Minnesota is one of the best stories of this MLB season, having performed one of the largest turnarounds in sports history after going 59-103 in 2016. The Twins are the first team to ever reach the postseason after losing at least 100 games the previous year. As for the Yankees The team won 91 games in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Aaron Judge has become a Paul Bunyon-esque figure and the brightest young star in the game. Judge who is quite good at smashing the ball, having hit 52 home runs (or “dongers”) over the course of the season, also recorded a staggering 127 walks. Everyone knows the famous New York saying “eyy, I’m walkin’ here!”, and that was Judge this season. ALDS Cleveland Indians vs. Wild Card Winners Cleveland has set the modern baseball record of consecutive games won during this season with 22. The Indians also have perhaps the best pitching staff in recent memory. They are heavy favorites to win the AL. Houston Astros vs. Boston Red Sox The Astros might just be the most overlooked 101-winning team in MLB history. Houston’s hot start at the beginning of the season was overshadowed by the Dodgers’ even hotter start. The Astros leveled off and continued to play good baseball throughout the season but by then all the attention was on Cleveland’s winning streak. With MVP favorite Jose Altuve leading the way, the Astros have chance to retake control of the narrative. The Red Sox are mostly known for having the most obnoxious fan-base in baseball. Everyone else is hoping for Boston to lose quickly and make way for better, more interesting teams. NL Wild Card Game: Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks Pity the poor Rockies and Diamondbacks. Both franchises are relatively new, and despite numerous on-field successes, have struggled to capture the imagination of the greater baseball public. In 2017, both teams were two of the best in the NL - but played in the West and were left in the dust by the Dodgers juggernaut. Now they play each other in a one game, do or die scenario where the winner gets the privilege of playing the sacrificial lamb to, who else, the Dodgers. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Wild Card Winners The best team that money can buy, had one of the wildest MLB seasons in recent memory. The team roared out of the gate and just would not stop winning. By mid-July they were 66-29 and already drawing comparisons to some of the most dominant teams in history, such as the ‘84 Tigers, ‘84 Mets and ‘98 Yankees. At one point, they had won a ridiculous 44 out of 51 games. Then in late August, it happened. The Dodgers lost one game, the another and then another after that. Over a two-and-a-half week stretch, the Dodgers lost 16 of the 17 games, which included 11 in a row at one point. It looked like they were in danger of free fallin’ out into nothing. It was one of the worst stretches in franchise history and the Dodgers suddenly looked like one of the worst teams in the majors. It was baffling and although the team eventually straighten out the ship and finished a more than respectable 104-58.  This losing streak cast a pall over what was once an unreservedly joyous season and it has to linger in the back of the mind for weary Dodgers fans. Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals Hey remember these guys 2016 sure was fun! After the historic and long awaited World Series triumph, the Cubs seemed to be suffering from a bit of a hangover. And who could blame them They won the franchise’s first championship in over a 100 years, so of course a little “basking in the afterglow” would happen. Still, the team deserves credit for holding off the Brewers and reestablishing themselves as the class of the NL Central. Now they can pursue another championship without all the historical baggage. And the Nats As always, injuries seem to be holding them back from reaching their true potential. After missing much of the season, Bryce Harper is reportedly back for the playoffs and Max Scherzer’s hamstring injury apparently isn’t a big deal… but man, is there a bigger bummer of a team or what Washington has had “name” talent for so many years but the organization has never been able to put it all together in the same year to make a defining run. It’s hard not to feel like the window has closed. Anyway, we will have to wait and see who takes the title.  Go Yankees! Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

It’s time for The U.S. Open of Tennis! In addition to being the tennis Major of North America, the U.S. Open is also one of the most important sports events to take place in Queens and is critical to the borough, especially if the Mets stink (so, usually). Every year, the final major of the year is held at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center complex, with the main court featuring at Arthur Ashe Stadium. All the biggest matches, including both the men’s and women’s final, are held at Arthur Ashe. With its fast hard courts and vibrant crowd (often including many New York-based celebrities), the U.S. Open easily distinguishes itself from the more formal Wimbledon and the slow clay court based French Open. This year’s draw promises to provide some interest. Roger Federer’s magical comeback mystery tour rolls along, as the now 36 year old continues to defy tennis history and known sports biology by continuing to play at an elite level. Part of the secret is simply rest of course, as Federer has withdrawn from more tournaments to stay fresh. Still, the fact that he is the favorite heading into the Open at his age is a marvel. Tennis used to be ruled by prodigies in their late teens and early 20s. No longer. Federer has tough draw and could potentially have to get through other bright lights such as Nick Kyrgios, Dominic Thiem and longtime rival Rafael Nadal just to reach the semifinals. While Nadal has not been in quite the same form as Federer over the past few tournaments, he does have the easier path and might be the safer bet. With Andy Murray sitting out due to injury, Nadal and Federer will supply most of the veteran star power. It will be interesting to see if any of the young guns can step up to the challenge. Also keep an eye on relative newcomer Alexander Zverev. Over on the women’s side, all eyes are on Maria Sharapova who is returning to the game after a 15-month drug suspension.  Sharapova only made it as a wildcard and the U.S. Open will be her first major back.  Long layoffs can be killer for tennis players, so it will be interesting to see how she plays. Even with her time away from the game, Sharapova is still the biggest woman star and will draw the lion’s share of the attention. Garbiñe Muguruza is coming off her Wimbledon win and has been playing the best tennis of her life all year. The smart money is still on Muguruza, but top seed Karolina Pliskova, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep (who opens against Sharapova) are all lurking. It should be quite a corker. All in all, the U.S. Open is one of the premier tennis events in the world and in one of the greatest cities in the world. Don’t pass up the chance to go to a match if you’re in the area!

It's time for the last Major golf tournament of the year, the PGA Championship. While this tournament may not have the history and prestige of The Masters or The (British) Open, it still an important event for the top golfers to round out their Major season, while many young up-and-comers will look to make their mark. This year's Championship will take place at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is the club's first hosted Major and the quality of the course has been questioned privately by some golfers and caddies, as is often the case with many first time venues. Of course, part of the challenge of golf is adapting to the challenges and vagaries of each specific course. All eyes at this year's tournament will be on British Open winner Jordan Spieth. Spieth is perhaps the most popular young golfer in the world, and his win at the Open may have quelled any doubts about his ability to bounce back after the adversity he experienced last season. The PGA Championship represents the chance for Spieth to complete the career Grand Slam (winning all four Major tournaments) at only 24 years old. If successful, he would complete the Slam at a younger age than Jack Nicklaus as well as Tiger Woods, too. Could Rory McIlroy be the one standing in his way Many of the betting crowd are predicting a collision course between the two bright young stars. McIlroy is in an interesting place; still good and respected, but not quite as dominant as some in the golf community think he is capable of being. Could the PGA Championship have a rejuvenating effect on him, the way the Open seemingly did for Spieth It will be fascinating to find out. While Spieth and McIlroy may be the main draws, there is always plenty of intrigue at any Major - one merely has to go back through the history of golf to find instances where the favorites falter and someone surprising or unexpected rises to take the place. Could that happen this year The only way to find out is to watch! Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.

It’s time for golf’s British Open! Held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, this major tournament is steeped in history and tradition. In addition to being the oldest of the Majors, it is also the only one of the major championships to be held outside of the United States. The British Open is also often called the Open Championship. So, who will win  This Open is typically known for producing windy conditions. High rise dunes at the Birkdale course will also be challenging. The conditions suggest that aggressive golfers who can take advantage of the high winds and slow greens can actually benefit. Historically, older golfers have had much success and outperformed expectations at the Open. For now, however, the odds makers are favoring two youngsters, Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy. They are two of the most dominant golfers of the past few years, however both are coming off of U.S. Open disappointments when they (and others) made headlines for missing the cut. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the adversity.  In golf, the mental setbacks are often more challenging than the physical ones. Burgeoning superstar Jordan Spieth has also emerged from his recent struggles and is the third favorite to take the Open. Spieth is one of the most popular younger players on the tour and comes armed with a boatload of endorsements to boot. It will be interesting to contrast his performance with those of Johnson and McIlroy. As mentioned above, older players generally find some success at this particular tournament, so it won’t just be the young guns making noise. Sergio Garcia is still riding the emotional wave from his breakthrough Masters win. Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Adam Scott are... still around. And after missing out on the past few Majors, fan favorite Phil Mickelson is back to compete. All in all, it should be a wild and fun tournament. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.

Wimbledon is underway and Inspector Pumphead has some thoughts on this grand tennis tournament. Probably the most well-known and prestigious of all the Major tennis tournaments, Wimbledon takes place every summer in London. This event is famous for its fast grass courts, all-white dress code and the consistent attendance of prominent celebrities, including members of the Royal Family. Both the men’s and women’s finals are some of typically the highest rated tennis broadcasts all year, despite the time difference between the UK and the US. This year will continue the recurrent themes for both the men’s and women’s draw. On the women’s side, the absence of Serena Williams widens the potential field considerably. In the men’s draw, the veteran’s crew continues to hold sway, as the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are favorites to fend off the younger crew. It should be an interesting draw. Let’s dive into some of these factors in the preview. Golden Oldies Tennis has long been known as a young man’s (or woman’s) game, it was much more common to see a 17-year old wunderkind win a major tournament than a player over 29. Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, perhaps the two biggest icons of the 70s/80s tennis boom, both won their last Major tournaments at 25 years old and that was not a particularly unusual fact. But now, many of the top players in the world are dominant well into their 30s. In fact, the entire top five is part of the thirty-something crowd: --Andy Murray, 30 --Rafael Nadal, 31 --Stan Wawrinka, 32 --Roger Federer, 35 --Novak Djokovic, 30 It’s pretty remarkable and the first time in the history of tennis rankings that this has happened. There could be a variety of explanations as to why older players are surviving. This Wall Street Journal story digs into some of the factors. Perhaps the most pertinent explanation includes the advances in sports nutrition, awareness of injury prevention methods and the recuperative techniques. These are valuable tools that help older players maintain their edge.  With elite older players combining their knowledge and experience with a retained athleticism, it is more difficult than ever for younger players to break through the ranks. It will be fascinating to see if young guns such as Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and Nick Kyrgios can dethrone their idols. Questions in the Women’s Draw When the dominant Serena Williams is not playing, the field is considered wide open. World no. 1 Angelique Kerber would ostensibly be the favorite but she has been struggling as of lately and will probably lose her top ranking. Simona Help and Karolina Pliskova are in play as are crowd favorites Caroline Wozniacki and Coco Vandeweghe. Despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that there aren’t as many big names in the women’s draw, it could be even more interesting than the men’s side. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll-free number 1-800-429-0800.

It is time for golf’s U.S. Open! One of the big four “Major” Tournaments of the golf scene, this year’s edition will take place the Erin Hills course in Erin, Wisconsin. Most of the biggest names in golf will be heading to Wisconsin to try to earn the $12 million purse, the largest in the tournament’s history.  Generally, the U.S. Open has had a reputation as perhaps the most rigorous and challenging Major, regardless of the course. The ethos of the event is to push all golfers to truly test their limits and push themselves. The course it Erin Hills is supposed to be both long, wide and soft. Which golfer will step up this time Unsurprisingly, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth come in as heavy favorites, despite neither winning the Master’s. They have been two of the most dominant golfers in the world over the past few years. Sergio Garcia became a sentimental favorite for winning his first Major at Augusta, despite years of questions about his ability by the golf media. Can he do it again Rory McIlroy, the Scottish wunderkind, is still lurking. Dustin Johnson (29-4) Jordan Spieth (9-1) Jason Day (11-1) Rory McIlroy (12-1) Jon Rahm (18-1) Rickie Fowler (18-1) Fan favorite Phil Mickelson will notably be absent due to a conflict with his daughter’s graduation ceremony. And of course Tiger Woods will be absent; the man who is still the world’s most famous golfer has been in the news more for his legal troubles than anything to do with the sport. It’s a real shame for the man who once dominated the sport so thoroughly. Many predicted that by 2017 Tiger would have owned the record for most Majors won, surpassing the great Jack Nicklaus. In fact, this will be the first Major tournament to feature neither Mickelson nor Woods since 1994! We are truly witnessing a changing of the guard and shift in golf’s future. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll fee number 1-800-429-0800.

Pump Products is excited to announce an Open House BBQ on June 23rd. This event will take place at the Pump Products storefront/warehouse at 35 Woodland Ave in Westwood, N.J. This BBQ will be sponsored by Thermco which is a regional manufacturing representative for Armstrong Pumps, one of the best known and most reputable pump manufacturers. Pump Products carries Armstrong circulator pumps, which are known for consistent performance, durability and design. Pump Products also carries control accessories and repair parts (flanges, gaskets, bearings, adapters) from Armstrong. “I’ve always liked working with Thermco, their reps are very responsive and attentive to customer needs,” according to Pump Products application engineer Lee. Other local pump, plumbing and HVAC companies will also attend and set up booths. Gourmet cook Giuseppe will be manning the grill and serving up delicious burgers and hot dogs. T-shirts and hats with the Pump Products logo will be available. All customers, old and new, are encouraged to attend, and will be given the opportunity to tour the store. “It will be a really fun event for Pump Products” says fellow application engineer Nick. “We’re all extremely ‘pumped,’ pun very much intended.”

It is finally here. After seven months, thousands of games and a mostly perfunctory and boring playoffs, the NBA Finals start tomorrow night. The biggest stage in world basketball with the biggest stars is on tap before us. Legacies will be written and rewritten; a champion will rise. Who will take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy Here is the official Inspector Pumphead Preview. The Teams and Players The Warriors It is no surprise to see the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers at this point in the season. This will be the third straight NBA Finals for this matchup, a record. The rubber match will go a long way in determining how NBA history for this decade is remembered. The Warriors are probably the most talented team in NBA history. They have three All-NBA players (Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green) and a fourth (Klay Thompson) who was an All Star. No team - not Russell’s Celtics, Magic’s Lakers, Jordan’s Bulls - has had this many great players all operating at peak performance. As hard as it may be to believe, Curry is the oldest at 29. The wealth of talent has allowed the Warriors to play an eye catching, ball sharing style of basketball. While Curry is still the primary ball handler, the Warriors don’t rely on his penetrations. They can use a variety of actions to free up space for their deadly shooters. Durant and Thompson are snipers on the wing, while Green gives them a valuable presence inside. Green is the team’s best passer and when double-teamed can easily find the open man. The team’s unselfishness and willingness to pass, the dangerous outside shooting and general athleticism all operate in a smart, well-designed offense that allows players to shine and helps them get easy baskets. Thus, the Warriors are almost impossible to shut down or even slow down. The only real weakness they may have are turnovers. The team tends to be a little careless with the ball, but that might be because they can usually afford to be. What’s really scary is that in addition to the unstoppable offense, the Warriors are the league’s best defensive team as well. Length, athleticism, frequent communication and intelligent rotations make the Dubs’ defense a buzzsaw. Curry is decent at defending opposing ball-handlers, Thompson works hard at tracking opposing off-ball wings and Durant uses his incredible wingspan to close quickly on shooters. The anchor is Green who is probably the best defensive player in the NBA today. He can guard big men, point guards and athletic wings and is always in the right place at the right time. So with all of that going in favor of the Warriors, do the Cavs have any realistic chance to take the series The Cavaliers The Warriors may have four of the best five players in the series, but the Cavs have the best player on the planet. In his 14th NBA season, James has looked just as good if not better than ever. He can still score virtually whenever and however he wants, whether on a drive, post-up or from the outside. His jumper has never been more consistent. What really makes him dangerous, however, is his ability to see the floor and find shooters in space and in rhythm. And James is surrounded by dangerous shooters; the Cavs were actually the best three-point shooting team in the NBA this season. Dangerous scoring guard Kyrie Irving is back after taking a leap in last season’s finals. Few can forget his incredible performance and game-winning moonshot over Curry. Irving still has the best handles in the games and is even starting to rival Curry as an incredible shotmaker. After struggling to fit in the past two seasons, power forward Kevin Love is back to looking like the dominant player he was in Minnesota. His deadly three-point shooting makes him the ideal trailer on fast break opportunities and the Cavs have attentive to giving him scoring opportunities inside. The problem with both Irving and Love (and indeed the Cavs as a team) is their defense. It has been markedly improved in the playoffs, but they still showed lapses. Poor communication, half-hearted effort and incorrect rotations have hurt the Cavs against many teams over the course of the regular season and playoffs. Against a team as potent as the Warriors, those lapses could be killer. Few teams with the (regular season) defensive profile and statistics of the Cavs have won the NBA title, much less against a team as formidable as the Warriors. Can Lebron put on another superhuman performance with the odds stacked against him Bench and Role-Players The health of Warriors’ sixth man Andre Iguodala will be key. Iggy won the Finals MVP award two seasons ago, largely because of his work defending James. Center Zaza Pachulia is a strong screen-setter and a physical defender who does the dirty work that allows the stars to shine. Backup center Javale McGee has been one of the surprise stories of the season, with the former wayward character contributing solid minutes. Solid role players like Shaun Livingston, David West, Ian Clark and Patrick McCaw fill out the rotation. Meanwhile, the Cavs might have the best NBA role player in forward Tristan Thompson who rebounds voraciously, protects the rim and ably defends bigger players. Cult hero and people’s champion J.R. Smith always provides a three-point shooting boost at the most unexpected times. He will need to be more consistent. Iman Shumpert is probably the team’s best wing defender after Lebron and will probably get a chance to try his hand at slowing down Durant. Backup point guard Deron Williams isn’t that far removed from being an elite player and could provide some decent playmaking looks off the bench. Kyle Korver and Channing Frye are great shooters but poor defenders, so it will be interesting to see how much they play. Coaching Brilliant Warriors coach Steve Kerr will likely miss the series due to a persistent back problems. Interim coach Mike Brown has plenty of experience, having gone to the finals with Lebron and the Cavs back in 2007. He will provide a steady hand, but can he be as creative and make adjustments the way Kerr can Meanwhile, Cavs coach Ty Lue displayed surprising flexibility and ingenuity in last year’s championship run. He has a much tougher task this year and will need to fix the sometimes porous defense. The Pumphead Pick This should be a fun, tough and competitive series that will hopefully make up for the dull playoffs. Lebron is great, but the Warriors have too much firepower and will exploit the Cavaliers’ defensive deficiencies. Look for the Warriors to blow a few games open, while the Cavs will pick up two wins in tight games. Warriors in 6 How to Watch Game 1 in Oakland on Thursday (06/01), 9:00 PM EST on ABC Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.

The French Open starts tomorrow and that means it is time for some tennis! The second major Grand Slam tournament of the year takes place at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris. The signature of the French Open is the famous red clay court that has bedeviled so many of the game’s greats in the past. The clay is not as consistent as a hard court and can change depending on the weather. It is more difficult to time slides and swings. Most of all, the tennis ball bounces slower on clay, changing its spin and trajectory. This means that powerful serves are blunted and long rallies are commonplace. Venus Williams, Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe are some of the all-time tennis greats who never took the trophy home from France. Which makes what Rafael Nadal has done over the past decade all the more impressive. The “Clay King” will be gunning for his 10th (!) French Open title this year. He already owns the record at nine titles won. Nadal famously grew up practicing on clay and that experience combined with his speed, conditioning, timing and athleticism has made him almost unstoppable on the surface. Over the last few years injuries have impeded his game somewhat, but he still enters the 2017 tournament as the favorite on a run of good form. Whatever happens, we know Nadal will not face longtime nemesis Roger Federer, who decided to pull out and preserve his aging body for Wimbledon. Fellow big-time stars Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will also be lurking, although neither man has been on his best form as of late. Can they spring an upset Will some relatively unknown young gun step into the spotlight to challenge Nadal Only time will tell. Over on the women’s field, Serena Williams will not compete due to her pregnancy, which must have every other player breathing a sigh of relief. While the women’s draw might suffer due to lack of starpower, it could be an opportunity to see who steps up in the vacuum left by Williams. A wide-open field could make for some tense, exciting matches. Tipsters are looking at Simona Halep, Angie Kerber and Garbiñe Muguruza to make some noise. Whatever happens, it’s sure to be an interesting and exciting two weeks. With the star wattage on the men’s draw and the open nature of the women’s draw, you definitely won’t want to miss out on all the exciting tennis action The official Inspector Pumphead prediction is that Nadal will win his 10th title. As for the women No idea! What are your predictions Let us know in the comments. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.