In July 2016, Britain’s Eddie Hall deadlifted 500 kg (1102lbs) at the strongman World Deadlift Championships. The equivalent of a half metric ton, this incredible feat of strength added 35 kg/77 lbs to the previous world record. Once deemed impossible, this lift shook the earth in the strength community. And yet, this astronomical lift went…
Why England can win the 2022 World Cup
The world’s perennial underachievers in men’s professional soccer, the English national team has been on a slow resurgence for a few years now. Without doubt, most of you will have no clue in the slightest what I’m referring to; Afterall, soccer has always been overlooked in the United States, and so widespread coverage is hard…
Unusual Sports: Slam Ball — The sky’s the limit
If you’re a basketball lover who likes flips and heights, then this may be the sport for you! This sport is called Slam Ball. Created by Mason Gordon, a basketball enthusiast who wanted to try and create a real-life game that mirrored capabilities seen in video games, such as super high jump and dunking. People…
Athlete Profile: A true one-year wonder in Peyton Hillis
Football is the closest thing in America to a gladiator sport — it’s no surprise that superstars fall apart every year between injuries, stress and personal issues. As we know it now, football will never be a completely safe game, and some top-tier players will have their careers cut short. Sometimes, though, an unstoppable force…
Unusual Sports: Calcio Storico — a vicious sport of papal origins
Calcio Storico is a very popular sport for the Italians, an ancient game dating back to the 15th century. Unlike most sports, though, it only takes place in Florence, Italy. You also must be born in Florence to compete in it. There are four teams, each representing Florence’s original historical neighborhoods: Santa Maria Novella (Reds),…
Last Week in Sports: The MLB’s spring training has begun
Just over four months ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers were crowned MLB champions. This past Sunday, Major League Baseball started the 2021 spring training schedule. While only lasting a month, spring training allows many new players to vie for roster spots and provides the more experienced players a sense of competition. Due to health and…
Last Week in Sports: The closing games of NCAA basketball
They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Such has been the case with this season of men’s NCAA basketball. Since my last coverage of men’s basketball several weeks ago, several teams that were in the top 10 have since dropped out of the top, while the two top teams…
This Week in Sports History: Ali takes first heavyweight belt from Sonny Liston
Muhammed Ali’s achievements in boxing are nearly impossible to replicate and are always interesting to go back to — this will be the second time I’ve covered an Ali fight this year. Something about Ali’s legacy, between his inventive fighting style, laundry list of title wins and personal achievements outside the ring, is alluring, even…
Unusual Sports: The medeival art of Fierljeppen
Have you ever heard of Fierljeppen? It’s a Dutch sport that’s fairly old, dating back to the 1200s. What’s interesting about this sport is that it was created as a way of making life easier and not for sport. The idea was that the farmers needed to get over multiple canals that criss-crossed over the…
This Week in Sports History: Revisiting Jordan’s upbringing on his birthday
There is no more recognizable name in basketball, and possibly any sport, than Michael Jordan’s. His legacy, even after the likes of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, is something that remains hard to replicate. Jordan’s career likely kicked off the advent of global sponsorship and corporate deals, as his image became synonymous with…