Curio Cabinet / Sporty Curio
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Part sport, part war, this game makes rugby look like a tea party. For centuries, the residents of Florence, Italy, have gathered to watch Calcio Storico, a unique game that is quite literally rooted in war. After witnessing a match of Calcio Storico in 1574, King Henry III of France is said to have described it as, “Too small to be a war, too cruel to be a game.” It was an apt description, considering that the game was developed during the Siege of Florence just decades earlier. Beset by enemies, the residents intimidated their foes from within the walls of Florence by staging a bout of the game to show off their physical prowess at Piazza Santa Croce, a square at the heart of the city. Today, the final match is preceded by a parade featuring historical costumes, including the players themselves who play in Renaissance garb. The rules are simple: each team must get a ball inside a net, the latter of which is the same width as the sand-covered playing field. Players can use any means necessary to stop their opponents, including punching and grappling. Bloody injuries are practically expected during any match. While it may seem “cruel,” the game is a matter of tradition and pride for the city. There are just four teams, each representing a district, and players can only represent the district they were born in. The game’s brutal nature isn’t just a dangerous quirk—it’s the point. By keeping the game as close to its original form as possible, the people of Florence honor the strength and defiant spirit of their forebears. Still, watching is probably a better experience than participating.
[Image description: A painting from between 1523 and 1605 showing a Calcio match in a town square in Florence, with a large crowd and horses surrounding the square.] Credit & copyright: Ball game on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, Stradanus (1523–1605). Wikimedia Commons, this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.
Part sport, part war, this game makes rugby look like a tea party. For centuries, the residents of Florence, Italy, have gathered to watch Calcio Storico, a unique game that is quite literally rooted in war. After witnessing a match of Calcio Storico in 1574, King Henry III of France is said to have described it as, “Too small to be a war, too cruel to be a game.” It was an apt description, considering that the game was developed during the Siege of Florence just decades earlier. Beset by enemies, the residents intimidated their foes from within the walls of Florence by staging a bout of the game to show off their physical prowess at Piazza Santa Croce, a square at the heart of the city. Today, the final match is preceded by a parade featuring historical costumes, including the players themselves who play in Renaissance garb. The rules are simple: each team must get a ball inside a net, the latter of which is the same width as the sand-covered playing field. Players can use any means necessary to stop their opponents, including punching and grappling. Bloody injuries are practically expected during any match. While it may seem “cruel,” the game is a matter of tradition and pride for the city. There are just four teams, each representing a district, and players can only represent the district they were born in. The game’s brutal nature isn’t just a dangerous quirk—it’s the point. By keeping the game as close to its original form as possible, the people of Florence honor the strength and defiant spirit of their forebears. Still, watching is probably a better experience than participating.
[Image description: A painting from between 1523 and 1605 showing a Calcio match in a town square in Florence, with a large crowd and horses surrounding the square.] Credit & copyright: Ball game on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, Stradanus (1523–1605). Wikimedia Commons, this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
It may not be the most popular Olympic sport, but it’s still the mane event. Some fans were disappointed recently when Jessica Springsteen, daughter of American singer Bruce Springsteen, failed to qualify for the Olympics this year after earning a silver medal in Tokyo. Her sport? Equestrian. Yes, horses compete at the Olympics, and have done so since 1900. There are three equestrian events: jumping, dressage, and eventing. Jumping is exactly what it sounds like, with horses galloping through a jump-focused obstacle course in a race against time (riders are penalized for knocking over obstacles). Dressage is a bit like dancing on horseback. Riders need to have focused control over their horses as they trot and move to music. Scores are assigned based on fluidity and ease of control. Finally, there’s eventing, which combines the aforementioned events with a cross-country obstacle race. There is very little room for error in any equestrian event, as riders have to maintain control of their massive mounts at all times. However, since the events don’t depend solely on the athletic prowess of human riders, equestrian competitors are often older than average Olympians. The oldest member of Team USA this year, Laura Kraut, is competing in equestrian jumping at age 58. It takes experience to keep pace when trotting for the gold.
[Image description: A drawing by Polish painter Maksymilian Oborski of a rider in a top hat on a horse.] Credit & copyright: Maksymilian Oborski (1809–1878), Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.
It may not be the most popular Olympic sport, but it’s still the mane event. Some fans were disappointed recently when Jessica Springsteen, daughter of American singer Bruce Springsteen, failed to qualify for the Olympics this year after earning a silver medal in Tokyo. Her sport? Equestrian. Yes, horses compete at the Olympics, and have done so since 1900. There are three equestrian events: jumping, dressage, and eventing. Jumping is exactly what it sounds like, with horses galloping through a jump-focused obstacle course in a race against time (riders are penalized for knocking over obstacles). Dressage is a bit like dancing on horseback. Riders need to have focused control over their horses as they trot and move to music. Scores are assigned based on fluidity and ease of control. Finally, there’s eventing, which combines the aforementioned events with a cross-country obstacle race. There is very little room for error in any equestrian event, as riders have to maintain control of their massive mounts at all times. However, since the events don’t depend solely on the athletic prowess of human riders, equestrian competitors are often older than average Olympians. The oldest member of Team USA this year, Laura Kraut, is competing in equestrian jumping at age 58. It takes experience to keep pace when trotting for the gold.
[Image description: A drawing by Polish painter Maksymilian Oborski of a rider in a top hat on a horse.] Credit & copyright: Maksymilian Oborski (1809–1878), Wikimedia Commons. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or fewer.
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FREERunning Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
There's literally no hurdle that this runner can't get over. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has managed to beat her personal best and set a new world record during the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials finale. It would be an understatement to say that McLaughlin-Levrone is good at what she does. During the 2022 World Championships, the seasoned runner set a new world record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 50.68 seconds. Now, she’s broken the record again at Hayward Field ahead of the Paris Olympics. With a time of 50.65 seconds, she finished nearly two seconds ahead of second place finisher Anna Cockrell (52.64 seconds) and third place finisher Jasmine Jones (52.77 seconds) after leaping over ten hurdles followed by a sprint. The 24-year-old runner is so fast that the hurdles don’t even seem to slow her down—she also holds the record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.75 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone is favored to take the gold in the event this summer, but she says she won’t stop there. After all, she already has a gold in the event from the last time she showed up to the Olympics. According to interviews, she’s aiming higher and hopes to break the 50-second barrier someday, possibly in Paris. At this point, she’s just racing against herself.
[Image description: Hurdles on an indoor track and field course.] Credit & copyright: Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels
There's literally no hurdle that this runner can't get over. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has managed to beat her personal best and set a new world record during the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials finale. It would be an understatement to say that McLaughlin-Levrone is good at what she does. During the 2022 World Championships, the seasoned runner set a new world record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 50.68 seconds. Now, she’s broken the record again at Hayward Field ahead of the Paris Olympics. With a time of 50.65 seconds, she finished nearly two seconds ahead of second place finisher Anna Cockrell (52.64 seconds) and third place finisher Jasmine Jones (52.77 seconds) after leaping over ten hurdles followed by a sprint. The 24-year-old runner is so fast that the hurdles don’t even seem to slow her down—she also holds the record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.75 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone is favored to take the gold in the event this summer, but she says she won’t stop there. After all, she already has a gold in the event from the last time she showed up to the Olympics. According to interviews, she’s aiming higher and hopes to break the 50-second barrier someday, possibly in Paris. At this point, she’s just racing against herself.
[Image description: Hurdles on an indoor track and field course.] Credit & copyright: Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels
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FREEGames Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Chess might be the game of kings, but crokinole is the game of Canucks. The World Crokinole Championship took place earlier this month, continuing a proud tradition that started…who knows when. Crokinole is a popular parlor game in Canada, but its origins are mysterious. The earliest written record of the game is from 1860, and it describes it as already being popular. Nowadays, there are crokinole aficionados around the world, and the best of the best gather every year in Tavistock, Ontario, to test their mettle on the board at the World Crokinole Championship. The game involves taking turns flicking discs on a wooden board and can be played in singles or doubles formats. The center of the board has a hole worth 20 points, and the rest of the board is divided into concentric circles worth 15, 10, and 5 points. This year, first place went to defending champion Connor Reinman of Michigan, but one of the standout competitors was Ryotaro Fukuda, the first Japanese player to ever compete at the championships. Despite having only played the game for 18 months, Fukuda placed 10th overall. Organizers noted that crokinole seems to be spreading in popularity throughout the U.S., perhaps due to a growing interest in board games in general. Get your flicking fingers ready—crokinole might be coming to a table near you!
Chess might be the game of kings, but crokinole is the game of Canucks. The World Crokinole Championship took place earlier this month, continuing a proud tradition that started…who knows when. Crokinole is a popular parlor game in Canada, but its origins are mysterious. The earliest written record of the game is from 1860, and it describes it as already being popular. Nowadays, there are crokinole aficionados around the world, and the best of the best gather every year in Tavistock, Ontario, to test their mettle on the board at the World Crokinole Championship. The game involves taking turns flicking discs on a wooden board and can be played in singles or doubles formats. The center of the board has a hole worth 20 points, and the rest of the board is divided into concentric circles worth 15, 10, and 5 points. This year, first place went to defending champion Connor Reinman of Michigan, but one of the standout competitors was Ryotaro Fukuda, the first Japanese player to ever compete at the championships. Despite having only played the game for 18 months, Fukuda placed 10th overall. Organizers noted that crokinole seems to be spreading in popularity throughout the U.S., perhaps due to a growing interest in board games in general. Get your flicking fingers ready—crokinole might be coming to a table near you!
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FREERunning Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
You really have to hoof it to win this race. It’s summer in the Rockies, and that means it’s time for Colorado's official summer heritage sport: pack burro racing. It’s an unusual competition that combines the stubbornness of donkeys with the stubbornness of human athletes. According to state lore, pack burro racing came about when two prospectors in the 1800s raced back to town from a gold deposit to be the first to stake a claim. Each had donkeys laden with tools and supplies, so the men raced with their pack animals galloping alongside them on leads. It wasn’t until 1949 that the first official race was held, with competitors similarly running beside—not riding on—their donkeys. The sport became popular enough and so ingrained in the state’s history that in 2012, the state passed House Joint Resolution 12-1021 to declare it their official summer heritage sport. Since its humble, inaugural race with just 21 participants (and only eight finishers), the event has grown to host around 100 racers every year. This year is the 75th anniversary of the event, a three-day affair called Burro Days that takes place in the town of Fairplay. Athletes have to think about more than just the high elevation and the rugged terrain when racing with their donkeys. For example, competitors aren’t supposed to tie themselves to their animals because, if a donkey hears their person fall, they’ll just run faster, dragging their human companion behind them. It seems these burros are a little confused about just who’s the leader of the pack.
[Image description: A donkey eating grass in a field.] Credit & copyright: Adrian Pingstone, Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Arpingstone at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.
You really have to hoof it to win this race. It’s summer in the Rockies, and that means it’s time for Colorado's official summer heritage sport: pack burro racing. It’s an unusual competition that combines the stubbornness of donkeys with the stubbornness of human athletes. According to state lore, pack burro racing came about when two prospectors in the 1800s raced back to town from a gold deposit to be the first to stake a claim. Each had donkeys laden with tools and supplies, so the men raced with their pack animals galloping alongside them on leads. It wasn’t until 1949 that the first official race was held, with competitors similarly running beside—not riding on—their donkeys. The sport became popular enough and so ingrained in the state’s history that in 2012, the state passed House Joint Resolution 12-1021 to declare it their official summer heritage sport. Since its humble, inaugural race with just 21 participants (and only eight finishers), the event has grown to host around 100 racers every year. This year is the 75th anniversary of the event, a three-day affair called Burro Days that takes place in the town of Fairplay. Athletes have to think about more than just the high elevation and the rugged terrain when racing with their donkeys. For example, competitors aren’t supposed to tie themselves to their animals because, if a donkey hears their person fall, they’ll just run faster, dragging their human companion behind them. It seems these burros are a little confused about just who’s the leader of the pack.
[Image description: A donkey eating grass in a field.] Credit & copyright: Adrian Pingstone, Wikimedia Commons. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Arpingstone at English Wikipedia. This applies worldwide.
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
We recently wrote about the retirement of Takeru Kobayashi, the “Godfather” of competitive eating and a frequent winter of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Now, another legend is being forced to step away from the competition, this time due to a ban. Competitive eater Joey Chestnut was declared persona non grata by contest organizers for signing a sponsorship deal with vegetarian brand Impossible Foods. In a shocking twist, however, it was announced shortly after Chestnut’s ban that he and Kobayashi will face each other in a head-to-head hot dog eating contest to air on Netflix some time in September. While it may seem harsh that Chestnut was banned in the first place, organizers of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Major League Eating (MLE) does have what they call “basic hot dog exclusivity provisions” that prohibit competitors from representing rival brands, and no brand is more antithetical to Nathan’s than Impossible Foods, the purveyor of plant-based meat-substitute products. It’s still shocking, though, that the MLE would outright ban Chestnut from this year’s competition considering that he’s the 16-time champion and de facto face of the event. Furthermore, Chestnut holds the top 10 records for the event, and in 2021, he broke the world record for the second year in a row by downing 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, beating his previous record of 75 hot dogs. The following year, he managed to place a protester who rushed the event in a chokehold in the middle of competition, barely skipping a beat between hot dogs. You can’t blame him for not setting another record that time!
[Image description: A long hot dog in a bun sitting on tin foil.] Credit & copyright: Waz8, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
We recently wrote about the retirement of Takeru Kobayashi, the “Godfather” of competitive eating and a frequent winter of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Now, another legend is being forced to step away from the competition, this time due to a ban. Competitive eater Joey Chestnut was declared persona non grata by contest organizers for signing a sponsorship deal with vegetarian brand Impossible Foods. In a shocking twist, however, it was announced shortly after Chestnut’s ban that he and Kobayashi will face each other in a head-to-head hot dog eating contest to air on Netflix some time in September. While it may seem harsh that Chestnut was banned in the first place, organizers of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Major League Eating (MLE) does have what they call “basic hot dog exclusivity provisions” that prohibit competitors from representing rival brands, and no brand is more antithetical to Nathan’s than Impossible Foods, the purveyor of plant-based meat-substitute products. It’s still shocking, though, that the MLE would outright ban Chestnut from this year’s competition considering that he’s the 16-time champion and de facto face of the event. Furthermore, Chestnut holds the top 10 records for the event, and in 2021, he broke the world record for the second year in a row by downing 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, beating his previous record of 75 hot dogs. The following year, he managed to place a protester who rushed the event in a chokehold in the middle of competition, barely skipping a beat between hot dogs. You can’t blame him for not setting another record that time!
[Image description: A long hot dog in a bun sitting on tin foil.] Credit & copyright: Waz8, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
You’re outta here… forever! Tucupita Marcano, an infielder for the San Diego Padres, has been banned from baseball for life after getting caught gambling on MLB games. It might seem harsh, but it’s a rare punishment that has happened only a few times in the history of the sport. Marcano received the lifetime ban earlier this week after it came to light that he placed 387 bets totaling over $150,000 between October 2022 and November 2023. According to MLB Rule 21, which covers a variety of indiscretions, “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall be declared ineligible for one year.” Coincidentally, Marcano received the ban as the League approaches the 100th anniversary of the only other time an American player on the roster was ejected from the sport permanently under the MLB gambling provision. Back in 1924, Jimmy O'Connell of the New York Giants was reported to the league for offering to throw the game in favor of the Philadelphia Phillies while fighting for the pennant. In addition, player-turned-manager Pete Rose was banned from the sport in 1989 after he was found to be gambling on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team. As for Marcano, after all the trouble he went through, he ended up winning only 4.3 percent of his bets. That almost seems like punishment enough.
You’re outta here… forever! Tucupita Marcano, an infielder for the San Diego Padres, has been banned from baseball for life after getting caught gambling on MLB games. It might seem harsh, but it’s a rare punishment that has happened only a few times in the history of the sport. Marcano received the lifetime ban earlier this week after it came to light that he placed 387 bets totaling over $150,000 between October 2022 and November 2023. According to MLB Rule 21, which covers a variety of indiscretions, “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall be declared ineligible for one year.” Coincidentally, Marcano received the ban as the League approaches the 100th anniversary of the only other time an American player on the roster was ejected from the sport permanently under the MLB gambling provision. Back in 1924, Jimmy O'Connell of the New York Giants was reported to the league for offering to throw the game in favor of the Philadelphia Phillies while fighting for the pennant. In addition, player-turned-manager Pete Rose was banned from the sport in 1989 after he was found to be gambling on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team. As for Marcano, after all the trouble he went through, he ended up winning only 4.3 percent of his bets. That almost seems like punishment enough.
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Hot dogs around the world can breathe a sigh of relief. After a record-breaking, trendsetting, and stomach-stretching career, competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi has announced his retirement. Kobayashi, better known as “Kobi,” entered the American competitive eating scene seemingly out of nowhere when he won the 2001 Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest. Although he had made something of a name for himself back in his home country of Japan, it was on Coney Island that he became a living legend by eating 50 hot dogs (double the previous record of 25 and 1/8) in 12 minutes. The feat earned Kobi headlines around the world and shined a light on competitive eating, popularizing the sport like never before. However, the years (and the hot dogs) have finally caught up with him. The seasoned veteran of the sport is now stepping away from competition after 20 years due to health concerns. During his appearance in the Netflix documentary Hack Your Health - The Secrets of Your Gut, Kobi stated that he no longer has a normal appetite and is unable to feel hunger or fullness, leading him to accidentally starve himself or overeat. He also said that his sense of smell seems to have dulled and that, in retirement, he will focus on his health and stick to a traditional Japanese diet with healthy ingredients. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with going back to basics.
[Image description: A long hot dog in a bun sitting on tin foil.] Credit & copyright: Waz8, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Hot dogs around the world can breathe a sigh of relief. After a record-breaking, trendsetting, and stomach-stretching career, competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi has announced his retirement. Kobayashi, better known as “Kobi,” entered the American competitive eating scene seemingly out of nowhere when he won the 2001 Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest. Although he had made something of a name for himself back in his home country of Japan, it was on Coney Island that he became a living legend by eating 50 hot dogs (double the previous record of 25 and 1/8) in 12 minutes. The feat earned Kobi headlines around the world and shined a light on competitive eating, popularizing the sport like never before. However, the years (and the hot dogs) have finally caught up with him. The seasoned veteran of the sport is now stepping away from competition after 20 years due to health concerns. During his appearance in the Netflix documentary Hack Your Health - The Secrets of Your Gut, Kobi stated that he no longer has a normal appetite and is unable to feel hunger or fullness, leading him to accidentally starve himself or overeat. He also said that his sense of smell seems to have dulled and that, in retirement, he will focus on his health and stick to a traditional Japanese diet with healthy ingredients. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with going back to basics.
[Image description: A long hot dog in a bun sitting on tin foil.] Credit & copyright: Waz8, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
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FREESoccer Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Soccer fans can be notoriously rowdy, but this was a very different, tragic ball game. Almost exactly 60 years ago, over 300 people died in what would come to be known as the Estadio Nacional disaster. On May 24, 1964, the Peruvian and Argentine national teams met at Peru’s national stadium, the Estadio Nacional in Lima. It was sure to be a contentious match, as the game was part of a qualifying round for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The match started with the stadium’s 53,000 seats filled to capacity, and the game went on without either team scoring a goal for most of the match. Then, with just six minutes remaining, Argentina took the lead. With tensions understandably high, the Peruvian team managed to score a goal of their own to tie the game, or so they would have, had Uruguayan referee Ángel Eduardo Pazos not disallowed the goal due to a foul. At first, just two spectators stormed the field, but they were quickly and brutally stopped by the police. Enraged by the referee’s call and further stoked by the violent police reaction to the two spectators, the rest of the stadium began to riot. First, the massive crowd made its way down to the pitch, then the violence spread into the streets. Officially, the death toll was recorded as 328, mostly due to asphyxiation from a crowd crush, but that number may not account for those shot by police during the riot. One thing’s for certain: even one death at what should be a fun event is way too many.
Soccer fans can be notoriously rowdy, but this was a very different, tragic ball game. Almost exactly 60 years ago, over 300 people died in what would come to be known as the Estadio Nacional disaster. On May 24, 1964, the Peruvian and Argentine national teams met at Peru’s national stadium, the Estadio Nacional in Lima. It was sure to be a contentious match, as the game was part of a qualifying round for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The match started with the stadium’s 53,000 seats filled to capacity, and the game went on without either team scoring a goal for most of the match. Then, with just six minutes remaining, Argentina took the lead. With tensions understandably high, the Peruvian team managed to score a goal of their own to tie the game, or so they would have, had Uruguayan referee Ángel Eduardo Pazos not disallowed the goal due to a foul. At first, just two spectators stormed the field, but they were quickly and brutally stopped by the police. Enraged by the referee’s call and further stoked by the violent police reaction to the two spectators, the rest of the stadium began to riot. First, the massive crowd made its way down to the pitch, then the violence spread into the streets. Officially, the death toll was recorded as 328, mostly due to asphyxiation from a crowd crush, but that number may not account for those shot by police during the riot. One thing’s for certain: even one death at what should be a fun event is way too many.
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
It’s the ultimate test of digit-al strength! Last week, 150 men gathered in the Bavarian town of Bernbeuren to compete in the national Fingerhakeln championship, one of the world’s strangest sporting events, hands down. Fingerhakeln, also called finger wrestling in English, is a serious athletic tradition developed in the Alpine communities of Bavaria and Austria. Originally, Fingerhakeln was a means to settle disputes, but it evolved into a competitive sport over time. The rules are simple: each round sees two finger wrestlers facing off, with each hooking one finger through a leather loop. They then pull as hard as they can, hoping to hold on longer than their opponent. Competitors usually use their middle fingers, and it’s common for fingers to get pulled out of their joints. Whoever wins moves on to another round, and the rounds continue until one man is crowned champion. Many competitors, like this year’s champion Luis Koegel, take the sport very seriously, and it’s not uncommon for men to train by hanging weights from their fingers. Finger wrestlers come in a wide range of ages, with the youngest and oldest competitors this year being 15 and 70. However, there were no competitors from outside Bavaria this year, as the region handily dominates the sport in Germany.
It’s the ultimate test of digit-al strength! Last week, 150 men gathered in the Bavarian town of Bernbeuren to compete in the national Fingerhakeln championship, one of the world’s strangest sporting events, hands down. Fingerhakeln, also called finger wrestling in English, is a serious athletic tradition developed in the Alpine communities of Bavaria and Austria. Originally, Fingerhakeln was a means to settle disputes, but it evolved into a competitive sport over time. The rules are simple: each round sees two finger wrestlers facing off, with each hooking one finger through a leather loop. They then pull as hard as they can, hoping to hold on longer than their opponent. Competitors usually use their middle fingers, and it’s common for fingers to get pulled out of their joints. Whoever wins moves on to another round, and the rounds continue until one man is crowned champion. Many competitors, like this year’s champion Luis Koegel, take the sport very seriously, and it’s not uncommon for men to train by hanging weights from their fingers. Finger wrestlers come in a wide range of ages, with the youngest and oldest competitors this year being 15 and 70. However, there were no competitors from outside Bavaria this year, as the region handily dominates the sport in Germany.
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FREECars + Motorcycles Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Oh, the suspen…sion! The Indianapolis 500 is coming up soon to kick off this year’s season of IndyCar, but what should have been a strong start for one of the most high-profile drivers and his teammates has been stalled due to a cheating scandal. Back on March 10, Indy500’s reigning champ, Josef Newgarden, finished first with his teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finishing third and fourth, respectively. However, IndyCar officials disqualified Newgarden and McLaughlin, and docked Power 10 points for using illegal software to manipulate the push-to-pass system. Also called P2P, the software is installed on all IndyCars and regulates the engine’s horsepower output. P2P made its debut in the 2009 season, and drivers are alloted up to 200 seconds of its use per race, gaining an additional 60 horsepower for 20 seconds at a time. Officials disable P2P on starts and restarts, but the three drivers for Team Penske were found to have bypassed this limit. Team Penske’s owner Roger Penske also suspended the team’s president Tim Cindric and three others: managing director Ron Ruzewski, Newgarden engineer Luke Mason and senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson. The suspended team members, led by Cindric, are accepting responsibility for the penalties, while drivers claim that they were misinformed about the rules regarding P2P. Nevertheless, the three drivers have also been fined $25,000 each and will forfeit their prize money from the race. With Newgarden’s disqualification, Pato O’Ward of McLaren Racing has now been awarded first place after originally finishing second. Now he’s second to none.
Oh, the suspen…sion! The Indianapolis 500 is coming up soon to kick off this year’s season of IndyCar, but what should have been a strong start for one of the most high-profile drivers and his teammates has been stalled due to a cheating scandal. Back on March 10, Indy500’s reigning champ, Josef Newgarden, finished first with his teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finishing third and fourth, respectively. However, IndyCar officials disqualified Newgarden and McLaughlin, and docked Power 10 points for using illegal software to manipulate the push-to-pass system. Also called P2P, the software is installed on all IndyCars and regulates the engine’s horsepower output. P2P made its debut in the 2009 season, and drivers are alloted up to 200 seconds of its use per race, gaining an additional 60 horsepower for 20 seconds at a time. Officials disable P2P on starts and restarts, but the three drivers for Team Penske were found to have bypassed this limit. Team Penske’s owner Roger Penske also suspended the team’s president Tim Cindric and three others: managing director Ron Ruzewski, Newgarden engineer Luke Mason and senior data engineer Robbie Atkinson. The suspended team members, led by Cindric, are accepting responsibility for the penalties, while drivers claim that they were misinformed about the rules regarding P2P. Nevertheless, the three drivers have also been fined $25,000 each and will forfeit their prize money from the race. With Newgarden’s disqualification, Pato O’Ward of McLaren Racing has now been awarded first place after originally finishing second. Now he’s second to none.
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FREEFootball Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
He might be a newbie, but he's not exactly green. The Buffalo Bills just drafted Travis Clayton, a man who has never played American football competitively. Yet, the pick isn’t raising many eyebrows. That’s because Clayton is a rugby player and a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The program is an intensive, 10-week boot camp for athletes who, like Clayton, have limited experience playing football. To qualify for the program, the candidate must not be a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and must not have attended high school in either country for more than two years. Since it was established in 2017, the program has produced 37 international players to date, with 18 still on rosters. Among them is Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who also came from rugby before stepping on the gridiron. Clayton will be playing the same position, and he’s following in some impressive footsteps, as Mailata is one of the best OTs in the NFL right now. On paper, the 303-pound, 6-foot-7-inch Clayton seems more than capable, running a 4.79 second 40-yard dash. No wonder they put him on the fast track.
He might be a newbie, but he's not exactly green. The Buffalo Bills just drafted Travis Clayton, a man who has never played American football competitively. Yet, the pick isn’t raising many eyebrows. That’s because Clayton is a rugby player and a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program. The program is an intensive, 10-week boot camp for athletes who, like Clayton, have limited experience playing football. To qualify for the program, the candidate must not be a resident of the U.S. or Canada, and must not have attended high school in either country for more than two years. Since it was established in 2017, the program has produced 37 international players to date, with 18 still on rosters. Among them is Jordan Mailata, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who also came from rugby before stepping on the gridiron. Clayton will be playing the same position, and he’s following in some impressive footsteps, as Mailata is one of the best OTs in the NFL right now. On paper, the 303-pound, 6-foot-7-inch Clayton seems more than capable, running a 4.79 second 40-yard dash. No wonder they put him on the fast track.
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FREESwimming Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
One would hope that rulemakers for the upcoming Olympics aren’t a bunch of dopes. However, a recent revelation that Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for banned substances has competitors worried for the upcoming games in Paris. Just months before the opening ceremony, it has just come to light that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but were allowed to compete anyway, going on to win several medals. At the time, WADA accepted an explanation from Chinese officials that the athletes were accidentally exposed to the drug by way of a contaminated kitchen. While the amounts found in the swimmers’ system was too little to offer any benefit, others have been penalized for similar amounts. In 2019, Australian swimmer Shayna Jack was banned for four years after testing positive for ligandrol. The ban happened despite claims that she was accidentally exposed, likely at a contaminated public pool—claims that even investigators said were credible. Nonetheless, Jack only managed to reduce her ban down to two years, and she’ll be competing this year at the upcoming Olympics. Now, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and athletes who have been similarly penalized are asking why the Chinese swimmers were seemingly given special treatment when the policy is to ban athletes who test positive, regardless of amount or intent. The issue, then, isn’t actually doping, but that WADA seems to be giving some athletes a pass. The organization’s credibility may be left in the shallow end after this.
One would hope that rulemakers for the upcoming Olympics aren’t a bunch of dopes. However, a recent revelation that Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for banned substances has competitors worried for the upcoming games in Paris. Just months before the opening ceremony, it has just come to light that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but were allowed to compete anyway, going on to win several medals. At the time, WADA accepted an explanation from Chinese officials that the athletes were accidentally exposed to the drug by way of a contaminated kitchen. While the amounts found in the swimmers’ system was too little to offer any benefit, others have been penalized for similar amounts. In 2019, Australian swimmer Shayna Jack was banned for four years after testing positive for ligandrol. The ban happened despite claims that she was accidentally exposed, likely at a contaminated public pool—claims that even investigators said were credible. Nonetheless, Jack only managed to reduce her ban down to two years, and she’ll be competing this year at the upcoming Olympics. Now, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and athletes who have been similarly penalized are asking why the Chinese swimmers were seemingly given special treatment when the policy is to ban athletes who test positive, regardless of amount or intent. The issue, then, isn’t actually doping, but that WADA seems to be giving some athletes a pass. The organization’s credibility may be left in the shallow end after this.
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
Keep up the pace—no, not like that! A half-marathon in Beijing recently went viral for its unusual finish, and now the results of the race have been canceled after an investigation. On April 14, during the race organized by World Athletics, four runners were in the lead: Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat of Kenya, Dejene Hailu of Ethiopia, and He Jie of China. But it’s how the race finished that had people questioning the results. As the pack of four approached the finish line, He Jie took the lead after seemingly being waved forward by the other three. As he crossed the finish line, his competitors seemed to trail behind at a leisurely pace. When asked about the race, Mnangat explained that he allowed Jie to win, “because he is my friend,” and that he wasn’t racing competitively during the event. Elaborating, he said, “I don’t know why they put my name on my bib/chest number instead of labeling it as a pacemaker. My job was to set the pace and help the guy win but unfortunately, he did not achieve the target, which was to break the national record.” Yet the Beijing Sports Bureau and World Athletics weren’t completely convinced, and both organizations investigated the race. In the end, the scores for all four runners were canceled along with their trophies, medals, and bonuses. Was it a case of poor sportsmanship or too much of it?
Keep up the pace—no, not like that! A half-marathon in Beijing recently went viral for its unusual finish, and now the results of the race have been canceled after an investigation. On April 14, during the race organized by World Athletics, four runners were in the lead: Robert Keter and Willy Mnangat of Kenya, Dejene Hailu of Ethiopia, and He Jie of China. But it’s how the race finished that had people questioning the results. As the pack of four approached the finish line, He Jie took the lead after seemingly being waved forward by the other three. As he crossed the finish line, his competitors seemed to trail behind at a leisurely pace. When asked about the race, Mnangat explained that he allowed Jie to win, “because he is my friend,” and that he wasn’t racing competitively during the event. Elaborating, he said, “I don’t know why they put my name on my bib/chest number instead of labeling it as a pacemaker. My job was to set the pace and help the guy win but unfortunately, he did not achieve the target, which was to break the national record.” Yet the Beijing Sports Bureau and World Athletics weren’t completely convinced, and both organizations investigated the race. In the end, the scores for all four runners were canceled along with their trophies, medals, and bonuses. Was it a case of poor sportsmanship or too much of it?
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
There aren’t any sharks in the Seine, but it turns out you can still lose a leg in it. The 2024 Summer Olympics is set to start soon, but the swimming leg of the triathlon is under threat due to the unsanitary conditions of the river Seine’s waters. Although city and Olympics organizers have both been working to improve water conditions, officials say that it might be necessary to delay or cancel the swimming portion entirely. The major culprit behind the water’s unsafe conditions is E. coli, which is present due to sewer overflows discharging into the Seine during heavy rains. To their credit, city officials have spent a whopping $1.5 billion to update the city’s centuries-old sewer system in anticipation of the Olympic event. When the water was deemed unsafe for swimming last year during a mixed relay test event, the organizers simply dropped the swimming portion, turning the triathlon into a duathlon. That might happen during the actual event this summer, but some are more optimistic, with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and President Emmanuel Macron both promising to go swimming in the Seine before the opening ceremony to prove the water’s safety. Maybe they should at least dip their toes in first.
[Image description: Boats on the Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background.] Credit & copyright: Syced, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain.
There aren’t any sharks in the Seine, but it turns out you can still lose a leg in it. The 2024 Summer Olympics is set to start soon, but the swimming leg of the triathlon is under threat due to the unsanitary conditions of the river Seine’s waters. Although city and Olympics organizers have both been working to improve water conditions, officials say that it might be necessary to delay or cancel the swimming portion entirely. The major culprit behind the water’s unsafe conditions is E. coli, which is present due to sewer overflows discharging into the Seine during heavy rains. To their credit, city officials have spent a whopping $1.5 billion to update the city’s centuries-old sewer system in anticipation of the Olympic event. When the water was deemed unsafe for swimming last year during a mixed relay test event, the organizers simply dropped the swimming portion, turning the triathlon into a duathlon. That might happen during the actual event this summer, but some are more optimistic, with Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and President Emmanuel Macron both promising to go swimming in the Seine before the opening ceremony to prove the water’s safety. Maybe they should at least dip their toes in first.
[Image description: Boats on the Seine with the Eiffel Tower in the background.] Credit & copyright: Syced, Wikimedia Commons. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain.
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FREEMartial Arts Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
There’s nothing artful about this brutal martial art. That didn’t stop it from being the most esteemed sport in ancient Greece, though. While the 2024 Summer Olympics are due to start in a few months, pankration, one of the very first Olympic sports, is unlikely to be featured this year or ever again on account of its brutal nature. Pankration, which means “all power” or “all strength,” was first introduced to the Olympic games in ancient Greece in 648 BCE. In many ways, it was the original mixed martial art. While combat sports like boxing and wrestling had been around for a while by then, pankration was more brutal and dangerous mainly because of its very simple set of rules: no biting and no gouging. Everything else was allowed, and fights went on until one of the combatants either signaled surrender or became unable to do so. Many bouts ended with someone being rendered unconscious, but there were also occasional deaths in the ring. Most bouts involved strangling, punching, kicking, and all manner of nasty blows and jabs. Greek writings tell of one match, at the 54th Olympiad in 564 BCE, in which the famed pankration fighter Arrichion of Phigaleia broke his opponent’s ankle in an attempt to escape a stranglehold. His opponent surrendered, but Arrichion still died in the ring due to the effects of strangulation. Since the match had ended at the surrender, though, Arrichion was still declared the winner. Had he lived, he would have been treated as a hero on his return home, as all winning Olympic athletes were. As for the other guy, we’re guessing it was hard for him to live down losing to a dead man.
[Image description: A photo of the ancient Greek parthenon against a blue sky.] Credit & copyright: User:Mountain, Wikimedia Commons. The copyright holder of this work, has released it into the public domain. This applies worldwide.
There’s nothing artful about this brutal martial art. That didn’t stop it from being the most esteemed sport in ancient Greece, though. While the 2024 Summer Olympics are due to start in a few months, pankration, one of the very first Olympic sports, is unlikely to be featured this year or ever again on account of its brutal nature. Pankration, which means “all power” or “all strength,” was first introduced to the Olympic games in ancient Greece in 648 BCE. In many ways, it was the original mixed martial art. While combat sports like boxing and wrestling had been around for a while by then, pankration was more brutal and dangerous mainly because of its very simple set of rules: no biting and no gouging. Everything else was allowed, and fights went on until one of the combatants either signaled surrender or became unable to do so. Many bouts ended with someone being rendered unconscious, but there were also occasional deaths in the ring. Most bouts involved strangling, punching, kicking, and all manner of nasty blows and jabs. Greek writings tell of one match, at the 54th Olympiad in 564 BCE, in which the famed pankration fighter Arrichion of Phigaleia broke his opponent’s ankle in an attempt to escape a stranglehold. His opponent surrendered, but Arrichion still died in the ring due to the effects of strangulation. Since the match had ended at the surrender, though, Arrichion was still declared the winner. Had he lived, he would have been treated as a hero on his return home, as all winning Olympic athletes were. As for the other guy, we’re guessing it was hard for him to live down losing to a dead man.
[Image description: A photo of the ancient Greek parthenon against a blue sky.] Credit & copyright: User:Mountain, Wikimedia Commons. The copyright holder of this work, has released it into the public domain. This applies worldwide.
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FREEFootball Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
It’s no longer hip to hip-drop. The NFL has banned the controversial “hip-drop tackle” for the 2024 season, and team owners agree that it’s about time. The NFL defines a hip-drop tackle as a maneuver where the defender “(a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee.” If that sounds dangerous, that’s because it is. According to a statement from the NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, the play has a 20 to 25 times higher injury rate, causing more players to miss out on games while recovering or having to retire earlier. Now, when a defender performs a hip-drop tackle and it’s flagged during the game, it will be considered unnecessary roughness. The penalty will be the loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down. However, Vincent explained that the change will probably be enforced much like the “use of helmet” rule, which isn’t often flagged during the game but followed up via warnings and fines afterward. There’s nothing like some stern words and a hit to the wallet to make someone behave during a heated game.
[Image description: A football on a grassy field.] Credit & copyright: filterssofly, Pixabay
It’s no longer hip to hip-drop. The NFL has banned the controversial “hip-drop tackle” for the 2024 season, and team owners agree that it’s about time. The NFL defines a hip-drop tackle as a maneuver where the defender “(a) grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms; and (b) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner's leg(s) at or below the knee.” If that sounds dangerous, that’s because it is. According to a statement from the NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent, the play has a 20 to 25 times higher injury rate, causing more players to miss out on games while recovering or having to retire earlier. Now, when a defender performs a hip-drop tackle and it’s flagged during the game, it will be considered unnecessary roughness. The penalty will be the loss of 15 yards and an automatic first down. However, Vincent explained that the change will probably be enforced much like the “use of helmet” rule, which isn’t often flagged during the game but followed up via warnings and fines afterward. There’s nothing like some stern words and a hit to the wallet to make someone behave during a heated game.
[Image description: A football on a grassy field.] Credit & copyright: filterssofly, Pixabay
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FREESports Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
These are hungry times for the City of Brotherly Love. After 27 years, the Philadelphia Phillies’ $1 Hot Dog Night has become a thing of the past, with the team citing fans’ “unruly” behavior last year. The promotion, which ran three times last year (twice in April and once in May), was intended to appeal to families, making it easier to feed everyone with inexpensive concessions. Over the years, it became a beloved tradition, and the stadium even displayed the number of dollar dogs sold during the game on the scoreboard during the nights when the promotion was running. Recently, however, things took a turn. John Weber, Phillies senior vice president of ticket operations and projects, explained to the press, “As it’s morphed over time, it’s gone more to a younger demographic.” Unfortunately, these young fans tend to be rowdier than families with young children. On April 11, 2023, fans started a large-scale food fight by chucking their discounted delicacies at each other and across the stands. Supposedly, that foodie fracas was the reason behind the end of the $1 hot dogs, though some have their doubts and believe the decision to be financially motivated. Regardless, instead of $1 hot dogs, fans will now be treated to buy-one-get-one deals several times a year. Hey, it’s better than nothing.
[Image description: Two hot dogs topped with ketchup and mustard on a white plate.] Credit & copyright: alleksana, Pexels
These are hungry times for the City of Brotherly Love. After 27 years, the Philadelphia Phillies’ $1 Hot Dog Night has become a thing of the past, with the team citing fans’ “unruly” behavior last year. The promotion, which ran three times last year (twice in April and once in May), was intended to appeal to families, making it easier to feed everyone with inexpensive concessions. Over the years, it became a beloved tradition, and the stadium even displayed the number of dollar dogs sold during the game on the scoreboard during the nights when the promotion was running. Recently, however, things took a turn. John Weber, Phillies senior vice president of ticket operations and projects, explained to the press, “As it’s morphed over time, it’s gone more to a younger demographic.” Unfortunately, these young fans tend to be rowdier than families with young children. On April 11, 2023, fans started a large-scale food fight by chucking their discounted delicacies at each other and across the stands. Supposedly, that foodie fracas was the reason behind the end of the $1 hot dogs, though some have their doubts and believe the decision to be financially motivated. Regardless, instead of $1 hot dogs, fans will now be treated to buy-one-get-one deals several times a year. Hey, it’s better than nothing.
[Image description: Two hot dogs topped with ketchup and mustard on a white plate.] Credit & copyright: alleksana, Pexels
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FREEDogs Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
It takes guts to race in the Iditarod, but sometimes you have to literally take guts. In an unfortunate twist of fate, an Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race competitor was recently penalized for improperly gutting a moose. It’s no secret that the Iditarod, which takes place in Alaska every year, is a brutal race. Each competitor must command a team of sled dogs over the course of several days through some of the harshest environments in the world. Throughout their journey, they can encounter frigid temperatures, blinding blizzards and, in the case of racer Dallas Seavey, a menacing moose. Seavey had the extreme misfortune of running into a moose on the trail, which began to attack him and his dogs. One of his dogs was injured during the encounter before Seavey was able to kill the moose with a handgun. This isn’t the first time a racer has run into a moose, and there are even special rules regarding such situations. When a competitor kills a moose, they’re required to gut it on the spot and report it to race officials at the next checkpoint. Seavey complied to the best of his abilities, but his knifework must have been a little lacking compared to his marksmanship, because officials weren’t satisfied with the job. Seavey himself told officials, "I gutted it the best I could, but it was ugly.” According to an official statement from organizers, they “determined that the animal was not sufficiently gutted by the musher,” which means that the intestines and other innards weren’t completely removed. For this, Seavey was given a two-hour time penalty. He still ended up winning the race for the sixth time—a new record. Regardless, it was a gut-wrenching situation for a moment there.
It takes guts to race in the Iditarod, but sometimes you have to literally take guts. In an unfortunate twist of fate, an Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race competitor was recently penalized for improperly gutting a moose. It’s no secret that the Iditarod, which takes place in Alaska every year, is a brutal race. Each competitor must command a team of sled dogs over the course of several days through some of the harshest environments in the world. Throughout their journey, they can encounter frigid temperatures, blinding blizzards and, in the case of racer Dallas Seavey, a menacing moose. Seavey had the extreme misfortune of running into a moose on the trail, which began to attack him and his dogs. One of his dogs was injured during the encounter before Seavey was able to kill the moose with a handgun. This isn’t the first time a racer has run into a moose, and there are even special rules regarding such situations. When a competitor kills a moose, they’re required to gut it on the spot and report it to race officials at the next checkpoint. Seavey complied to the best of his abilities, but his knifework must have been a little lacking compared to his marksmanship, because officials weren’t satisfied with the job. Seavey himself told officials, "I gutted it the best I could, but it was ugly.” According to an official statement from organizers, they “determined that the animal was not sufficiently gutted by the musher,” which means that the intestines and other innards weren’t completely removed. For this, Seavey was given a two-hour time penalty. He still ended up winning the race for the sixth time—a new record. Regardless, it was a gut-wrenching situation for a moment there.
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FREEFootball Sporty CurioFree1 CQ
The eagle has landed! After 13 seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles’ star center, Jason Kelce, has officially announced his retirement. It’s hard to imagine now, but Kelce didn’t have the most promising start to his career as a sixth-round draft pick by the Eagles back in 2011. As the 191st pick that year, Kelce was seemingly under-powered and under-sized at 280 pounds. But he was uncommonly agile for a center and quickly earned his right to be a starter in training camp. Throughout his career, Kelce more than proved his worth by playing in seven Pro Bowls and being named first-team All-Pro six times. That, along with the Eagles’ 2018 Super Bowl win make Kelce the only player since the AFL-NFL merger to be a Super Bowl champion and a six-time All-Pro. During his emotional 45-minute speech, the 36-year-old said, "I've been asked many times, why did I choose football—what drew me to the game—and I never have an answer that gets it right. The best way I could explain it is what draws you to your favorite song…your favorite book. It's what it makes you feel. The seriousness of it. The intensity of it.” Fans will miss him for sure, but at least they got to see this legend soar.
[Image description: A goalpost in an empty football field.] Credit & copyright: royharryman, Pixabay
The eagle has landed! After 13 seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles’ star center, Jason Kelce, has officially announced his retirement. It’s hard to imagine now, but Kelce didn’t have the most promising start to his career as a sixth-round draft pick by the Eagles back in 2011. As the 191st pick that year, Kelce was seemingly under-powered and under-sized at 280 pounds. But he was uncommonly agile for a center and quickly earned his right to be a starter in training camp. Throughout his career, Kelce more than proved his worth by playing in seven Pro Bowls and being named first-team All-Pro six times. That, along with the Eagles’ 2018 Super Bowl win make Kelce the only player since the AFL-NFL merger to be a Super Bowl champion and a six-time All-Pro. During his emotional 45-minute speech, the 36-year-old said, "I've been asked many times, why did I choose football—what drew me to the game—and I never have an answer that gets it right. The best way I could explain it is what draws you to your favorite song…your favorite book. It's what it makes you feel. The seriousness of it. The intensity of it.” Fans will miss him for sure, but at least they got to see this legend soar.
[Image description: A goalpost in an empty football field.] Credit & copyright: royharryman, Pixabay