Other Sports

Soccer, football — no matter what you call it, the world's most popular sport has a long and colorful history, from its ancient origins to its modern-day status as a global phenomenon. But when was soccer invented? How did it become the "beautiful game" that captivates millions today?

By Mack Hayden

There's little doubt that United States loves sports. The country is home to some of the world's biggest sports, in terms of fans, viewership, event attendance, sheer revenue and pure spectacle.

By Zach Taras

Strength is a trait that seems well-suited to competition. Over the years, there have been various attempts to claim world supremacy in strength, with different strongman competitions arising to certify the most impressive achievements.

By Zach Taras

It's one of the easiest human feats to attempt but one of the hardest to persist at — because when the urge to breathe hits, it hits hard, and it can seem impossible to keep going.

By Zach Taras

Free diving is a breathtaking sport, literally and figuratively, requiring athletes dive to astonishing depths (recorded primarily in meters) on a single breath of air. Instead of using scuba gear, these free divers rely mainly on their own lungs to explore the depths of the ocean.

By Marie Look

In the time it takes you to cook a five-minute meal in the microwave, elite-level runners have finished their 1-mile run - with time to spare. More impressively, some of these athletes continue to show that we have yet to reach the limit for physical achievements by shaving fractions off the fastest mile time.

By Nicole Antonio & Yara Simón

The history of roller skating is a winding road that started with John Joseph Merlin in the 18th century and evolved into multiple sports we still play today.

By Patty Rasmussen

Running through the extreme heat, elevation, snow or incredibly rough terrain in an ultramarathon is a challenge designed to defeat all but the most determined and prepared.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

First of all, who is Stanley? Also, why is this trophy so dang big?

By Patty Rasmussen

Millions of us bowl every year. It's socially fun, and you can drink beer and eat while you play. But how much do you really know about the sport?

By Meg Sparwath

It makes sense, until you look at the data from 8,000 racers.

By David R. Munro

Pickleball is a paddle sport attracting thousands of players across the U.S. and around the world. And it's getting bigger every year. What's the appeal?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

HowStuffWorks breaks down the amazing gymnastic move called a triple-double so you can see each twist and flip.

Forget Ultimate Fighting. Pillow fighting is the real ultimate sport.

By Oisin Curran

Taekwondo features dramatic, aerial, jumping, spinning kicks, but it's also about building character.

By John Donovan

It's called an own goal, and it happens when a player accidentally knocks the ball into the wrong net - the net they're supposed to be defending.

By John Donovan

How did this football club, initially composed mainly of Germans and Brits, become the repository of the hopes and dreams of an independent Catalan nation? And what would happen to the club if Catalan seceded from Spain?

By Dave Roos

When it comes to soccer, the United States doesn't have the same storied history as many of the more glamorous footballing nations of Europe or South America. Despite that, they have been slowly clawing their way into relevancy over the last three decades. After failing to qualify for every single World Cup between 1954 and […] The post The 13 Greatest American Soccer Players Ever appeared first on Goliath.

By Devon Taylor (@DevonTaylor113)

It was da bomb in the '90s, stone-cold dead in the 2000s and may just be poised for a comeback. But why?

By Dave Roos

How - and why - do martial arts practitioners bust those boards without hurting themselves?

By Oisin Curran

A story about a superhero, a rocket bike and a 40-year mystery that probably won't be solved.

By Julia Layton

On June 5, people will chase an 8-pound cheese down an absurdly steep hill in England. And it looks really fun.

By Julia Layton

Martial arts are so popular, they spawned an entire movie sub-genre starring some of the most respected martial artists of all time. Regarding this list, it's a mish-mash. We have several martial artists turned actors, some of whom have passed away but will always be remembered as legends, and some actors who you might not […] The post 11 Actors Who Are Trained Martial Artists appeared first on Goliath.

By James Sheldon

Humans have a highly competitive nature. It's just in our blood. Every year weirder and wilder sports are invented and new events get added to the Olympic games. But since there are so many people involved in the more common sports and games, competing in them at the highest level is extremely tough, making it […] The post 12 Of The World's Craziest Competitions That People Actually Sign Up For appeared first on Goliath.

By Wes Walcott

Study shows former college athletes report greater levels of well-being than nonathletes, except financially.

By Dave Roos