Best Sports Apps for the BlackBerry

For what seemed like an eternity, BlackBerry owners were forced to suffer through Apple's "there's an app for that" ads. BlackBerry's App World, though, finally allows crackberry owners to fully experience the addictive power of their own smartphones.

With an abundance of athletic titles at App World, it can be difficult for sports fans to determine which apps are worthy of their consideration -- and, in some cases, hard-earned money. The following rundown will hopefully reveal which apps will adequately fulfill each type of fan's specific athletic needs.

The Free:

The ESPN launcher installs an ESPN icon on your BlackBerry home screen, and provides access to everything ESPN Mobile has to offer, including current scores, stats, news, random trivia, and a variety of games. If ESPN doesn't satiate your craving for a specific sport or team, don't worry; almost every professional league currently has a mobile app.

NASCAR Mobile allows racing enthusiasts to track their favorite drivers and follow live racing action, all through an immediate access home screen icon. The Izod IndyCar fans can also get their mobile speed fix from an official app, and it provides a wealth of information including driver, track, scoring, and timing details. Major League Baseball, the NFL (with exclusive live draft action), the NHL, and NBA all provide up-to-the-minute scores, updates, team and player news, highlights, and games.

For other sports, the free Golf Channel app provides news, insight, and current tournament scores. The Score's Score Mobile app, which was already an incredibly popular choice prior to its impressive 1.2 upgrade, gives up-to-date scores and statistics, including fantasy player stats, as well as commentary on all manners of athletic endeavors. The World Cup of soccer arrives in South Africa this summer, and while a BlackBerry app hasn't been officially released yet, one is expected to precede the event.

The App World also has choices for outdoor enthusiasts, including the 'Smap' app, which is specifically designed for runners, hikers, and bikers. With this GPS app, users can record their route data and have an easy reference for detailed mileage, history, and progress reports.

The Pay to Play:

Rotisserie baseball season is getting close, and, after the drafts are completed, MyFantasyTeams can provide all of the statistical minutiae that make the game so enthralling. The app costs $3.99, and can also be used for other popular fantasy sports like football, basketball, and hockey.

Currently appearing in ads as the "caddy you can carry," the GreenFinder app provides access to detailed information on links throughout North America. While you're on the course, the app can warn you of fairway hazards, and determine your exact distance from the front, center, and back of the next green. GreenFinder costs $35 a year, but you can download it and try it five times, free of charge, before deciding whether or not it's worth the price.

Winter is obviously winding down, but there's still plenty of time to hit the slopes before the late season snow starts to melt. The GpsSkiMaps app provides a comprehensive guide to "all North American resorts." The app, which provides incredibly specific trail map information, costs $29.99, but it's only good for the current season, so time is limited.

For the BlackBerry owners who actually want to play and compete, Gameloft offers both 'Derek Jeter Pro Baseball 2007,' which it describes as "the most captivating baseball game on mobile," and 'Pro Golf 2007 Featuring Vijay Singh,' which boasts "true-to-life 3D land surfaces of beautiful Mauritius Island." Gameloft offers free trials for both, as well as for numerous other titles, including 'Midnight Casino' and 'Midnight Pool.'

Tags: apps, blackberry, blackberry apps, BlackberryApps, derek jeter pro baseball 2007, DerekJeterProBaseball2007, espn, features, golf channel, GolfChannel, greenfinder, midnight casino, midnight pool, MidnightCasino, MidnightPool, mlb, nascar mobile, NascarMobile, nba, nhl, top