Sports

Only the best of the best make it to the Super Bowl. And that includes the NFL officials.

By John Donovan

The NCAA scrapped the Bowl Championship Series in favor of a playoff system. But does it truly crown a national champion in college football?

By John Donovan

Three of the five longest field goals in NFL history have been kicked in Denver's Mile High Stadium. What gives?

By Mark Mancini

College sports just wouldn't be the same without those silly costumed humans (and live animals) parading around the sidelines pumping up the fans.

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

Plus other fun facts about what it entails to host the World Cup.

By John Donovan

All Major League Baseball parks extended the protective netting that keeps the most dangerous of foul balls from zipping into the stands. But is it enough to protect fans?

By John Donovan

Admit it: You cry every time you watch the parade of athletes in the opening ceremony. We do, too. What other official stuff goes down at this ultimate Olympic gala?

By Jessika Toothman

Twenty-one cities have hosted the Winter Olympics, but many of them may soon be too warm for cold weather games.

By Laurie L. Dove

Although women freely wear pants or shorts in everyday life, some sport associations still mandate skirts for their female athletes. Is this sexist, due to tradition or both?

By Alia Hoyt

Sports fans can be a noisy bunch. Hey, screaming your head off is part of the fun, right? But someone had to come up with 'DEE-FENSE' first. Who was it?

By Mark Mancini

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

The relationship between pro sports and expression of patriotism, like playing the National Anthem, is a uniquely American phenomenon. And a fairly recent one.

By Dave Roos

They may want to trade late-night hours on Twitter for some shut-eye to get better game stats, the research suggests.

By Shelley Danzy

People don't expect to see Asian-American basketball stars. Or football stars. But why?

By Dave Roos

But running was way down on the list.

By Alia Hoyt

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 Tokyo. Does that make the gold medalist in the decathlon the best athlete in the world?

By John Donovan

The Olympic flame is supposed to never go out until the games have ended. But hey, accidents happen. So how is the torch relit?

By Jesslyn Shields

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?

By Allison Loudermilk

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

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.

By Karen Kirkpatrick

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