Topic

Sports & Games

A collection of 47 issues

Before It Was Tennis, It Was Sphairistike: The Game in a Box With a Name Nobody Could Pronounce

The globally recognized sport of tennis once had a far more classical—and unpronounceable—name: Sphairistike. Patented in 1874 by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, this 'art of playing ball' was sold as a complete set but its Greek name failed to charm the public, who quickly adopted 'lawn tennis'.

History Sports & Games Inventions & Discoveries

The Secret Sonic Bridge Between a Sega Genesis 'Bad Ending' and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's Grammy-Winning Hit

In the mid-90s, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony dominated the charts with "Tha Crossroads." What most fans never knew was that the song's musical DNA came from a deeply unexpected place: the somber 'bad ending' theme from the 1993 Sega Genesis fighting game, *Eternal Champions*.

Music Sports & Games Entertainment & Media

Before Purple Rain, There Was the Prairie: Prince's Unlikely Role in The Oregon Trail's First Journey

Before he was a music legend, Prince Rogers Nelson was an 8th grader in Minneapolis. In 1971, his history class became the first-ever playtesters for a new teletype computer game designed by his teacher to teach about pioneer life. That game was The Oregon Trail.

Sports & Games History Music

Frozen at 38,000 Feet: The Stowaway Who Risked It All to Meet a Soccer Star

A Tahitian stowaway survived a flight to LA in a wheel well, enduring -58°F at 38,000 ft. His body temperature dropped to a near-fatal 79°F, placing him in a hibernation-like state. His incredible motive? He wanted to fly to France to shake hands with footballer Zinedine Zidane.

Biography & Personal Stories Sports & Games Adventure & Exploration

One Letter Off: The Story of the Only Misspelling on the Borg-Warner Trophy

Johnnie Parsons is the only Indianapolis 500 winner whose name is misspelled on the Borg-Warner Trophy. After his rain-shortened victory in 1950, the silversmith engraved 'Johnny' instead of 'Johnnie,' a permanent error that adds a unique human touch to motorsport's most famous prize.

Sports & Games History Biography & Personal Stories

The Silent Threat to Strength: Why Elite Athletes Have Shockingly High Rates of Sleep Apnea

Huge strength athletes like football linemen and rugby forwards have sleep apnea rates 2-3 times higher than the general population. Their large necks and high body mass, crucial for their sport, create a significant risk for this dangerous sleep disorder, impacting both performance and health.

Medicine, Psychology & Health Sports & Games

The Glitch That Became the Game: Basketball's Dribble Was Never Supposed to Exist

The rhythmic dribble, central to modern basketball, wasn't in the original rules. In 1897, the Yale University team found a loophole, bouncing the ball to themselves to move. This 'exploit' was so effective it was quickly written into the official rules, forever changing the game.

Sports & Games History

The Factory Worker Who Ran 607 Marathons in 607 Days

Ricardo Abad Martínez holds the world record for running 607 marathons on 607 consecutive days, from 2010 to 2012. Incredibly, he accomplished this monumental feat while still working his full-time, 8-hour shift at a factory.

Sports & Games Biography & Personal Stories Medicine, Psychology & Health

The Time Las Vegas Sang 'O Canada' to the Tune of 'O Christmas Tree'

In 1994, the CFL's Las Vegas Posse held their first home game. Tasked with singing the Canadian national anthem, a performer who didn't know the melody improvised by singing the words to 'O Canada' to the tune of 'O Christmas Tree,' creating a legendary sports blunder.

Sports & Games History Music

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