The Parable of the Placekicker: A Small Gesture Can Be Grand in the Right Moment [How I learned to hate football a little less]

But I loved Dungeons & Dragons…  As barista, bartender, catering waitress for all athletic functions and erstwhile resident of frat row, I had occasion to meet a lot of football players in college. I even dated a few. But I really only knew one and I didn’t even know he was on the football team until we’d been friends …

Calling all Sports Superfans: Would You Lie for Love?

“I love you, man!” “Aw! Come to papa!” In the grand tradition of Sandra Bullock and Jesse James, Ross Gellar and his first wife Carol, and that governor from South Carolina who went MIA for two days to “hike the Appalacian trail”, my marriage was based on a lie.  No, I’m not a neo-Nazi man …

Tennis Officials Call Serena Williams Ugly, Send Her to Back Courts

Quick, name this profession: long, slim, toned bodies poured into tight fitting – but adorable! – clothing and jumping around in front of a bevy of overeager photographers, magazine editors, and camera crews. Oh yeah, and there’s a lot of “grunting” involved (oh, the scandal!). Did you say modeling? Actually, it’s tennis. With East European …

The Fastest Runner Doesn’t Win First Place in Nike Marathon

Um, oops. Some things should be self-evident. Like the fact that I run with an entourage consisting of very short people with runny noses and a propensity for whining should indicate that I am well versed in how babies are made. (Stranger at Trader Joe’s, sneering, “Don’t you know how those are made yet? Me: …

Williams Sisters Sell Oreos to Children, Meth Next

You are the current U.S. Open Champion and her equally-as-talented sister. People the world over adore you. You’ve made unprecedented strides in both of your athletic careers and at the same time managed to keep your personal lives on an even keel. Kudos all around. So what do you do? If you are Venus & …

Fitness Mystery of the Day: The Case of the Marathon Ten

People often take up running as a weight loss tool. And for many it helps. Until it doesn’t. Aside from the previously discussed myth that exercise alone produces weight loss, there is another interesting facet to this idea: after a certain point that seems to be individual to each body, adding mileage can actually produce …

Yellow Waterfalls by I.P. Freely (a.k.a. Steve Stenzel)

So a while ago I confessed my fascination with how athletes “take care of business” during an athletic competition. This fascintation generally takes the form of intrusive questions asked to anyone who will sit still long enough to listen to me. My friend and first-time triathlete P, upon being on the recieving end of my …