Sports are an integral part of our culture and give many of us a reason to cheer and jeer. Learn about the history of sports and how your favorite sports really work.
Topics to Explore:
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
They'll compete in 10 events over two grueling days in Rio next week. Does that make decathletes the ultimate Olympic athletes?
By John Donovan
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The Olympic flame is supposed to never go out until the games have ended. But hey, accidents happen. Here's what happens after the accidents.
A story about a superhero, a rocket bike and a 40-year mystery that probably won't be solved.
By Julia Layton
What other sport allows you to fly 30 feet into the air and perform a fliffis?
This year, on the last Monday in May, people will chase an 8-pound cheese down an absurdly steep hill in England. And it looks really fun.
By Julia Layton
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There’s a new sport sweeping (or rolling across) the U.S.: bubble soccer. It gives a whole new meaning to the term bubble wrap.
You might only win $4,000 if you take first place at this Masters tournament, but rest assured, professional miniature golf is real.
By John Donovan
Study shows former college athletes report greater levels of well-being than nonathletes, except financially.
By Dave Roos
Some blame it on the spectators themselves, others on the railing heights.
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Despite what team owners may say, the payment makes more sense psychologically than economically.
By Dave Roos
Miniature golf is a classic family outing and beach vacation tradition. It's almost like a cartoon version of regular golf. Who would come up with such an idea?
By Debra Ronca
OK, fine. Referees and umpires are human beings who make human mistakes. But why do they always have to make their human mistakes against our team? Here are 10 bad sports calls we're still debating.
By Dave Roos
The cost of hosting the Olympic Games has risen astronomically, but some cities are willing to foot the bill in exchange for increased tourism and better infrastructure. But what happens when it doesn't pay off? Here are 10 cautionary tales.
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Baseball: It seems so deceptively simple. And then you try to explain it to someone who's not familiar with the game. And then you get even crazier and start ranting about the fourth out in a sport that's supposed to have only three.
Jackie Robinson is rightfully lauded for breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947. But there were many unsung players who paved the way for Robinson's momentous breakthrough.
By Chris Opfer
Who's on first? And how did he get there? Believe it or not, there are dozens of ways for baseball players to get to first base.
Baseball is a game of inches, and umpires hold the tape measure. Sometimes they succeed, other times not. When they don't, it's not hyperbole to say that umpires are perhaps the most vilified people in sports.
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Don't feel frustrated if you find the infield fly rule tricky to figure out. Even umpires sometimes get confused by it. Here's why.
This is one of those rituals with a dozen different "surefire" recipes. We'll look at what really works – and what's only half-baked – when it comes to breaking in a baseball glove.
By Julia Layton
They may sound like a group of characters in a Dr. Seuss book, but the yips are actually a serious malady for many athletes. What's behind this bewildering problem?
Spring training reminds fans of how baseball used to be – cozy ball fields, lower prices and players willing to sign autographs and chat a little. But spring training is also a multimillion dollar tourist attraction for Florida and Arizona.
By Dave Roos
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A well-known baseball poem celebrates "the sound of the crack of a bat." What makes baseball bats crack – and break? And how do you find the sweet spot?
Some combos make sense to us. There's Homer and Marge. Bagels and cream cheese. Vasectomies and March Madness. Wait, what?