American Sports

American SportsAmerican SportsRobert Frost (1874-1963) underlined Robert Frost (1874-1963) underlined the country’s fascination with sports the country’s fascination with sports

when he said ’Nothing flatters me more when he said ’Nothing flatters me more than t have it assumed that I could than t have it assumed that I could Write prose-unless it be to have it Write prose-unless it be to have it

assumed that I once pitched a basseball assumed that I once pitched a basseball with distinction’with distinction’

The sport’s played in The sport’s played in AmericaAmerica

BaseballBaseball BasketballBasketball Disabled sportsDisabled sports RugbyRugby SoccerSoccer TennisTennis LacrosseLacrosse

BaseballBaseball

The sport that evokes more nostalgia among Americans than any other is baseball. So many people play the game as children that it has become known as "the national pastime.“As one sport historian noted, "Baseball without records is inconceivable." For most Americans, for example, it is common knowledge that Roger Maris's 61 home runs (balls that cannot be played because they have been hit out of the field) in 1961 broke Babe Ruth's record of 60 in 1927. The first professional baseball league was established in 1871Baseball is both a sport and a business. Many disgruntled fans sometimes view the business side as the dominant one.

BasketballBasketball Basketball is a uniquely American Basketball is a uniquely American

sport. It originated in 1891 when sport. It originated in 1891 when James Naismith, a young physical James Naismith, a young physical education teacher in Springfield, education teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts, was instructed by Massachusetts, was instructed by his boss to invent a new game that his boss to invent a new game that could be played indoors during the could be played indoors during the cold winter months to keep the cold winter months to keep the students occupied and out of students occupied and out of trouble.trouble.

Basketball gained quickly Basketball gained quickly popularity due to its simple popularity due to its simple equipment requirements, indoor equipment requirements, indoor play, competitiveness, and easily play, competitiveness, and easily understood rules.understood rules.

Superstar players like Michael Superstar players like Michael “Air” Jordan increased the “Air” Jordan increased the popularity of basketball popularity of basketball internationally. In 1992, a so-called internationally. In 1992, a so-called Dream Team, made up of the top Dream Team, made up of the top American professional basketball American professional basketball players, represented the United players, represented the United States in Olympic Games for the States in Olympic Games for the first time.first time.

Disabled sportsDisabled sports

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there are 49.7 million Americans over the age of four with 49.7 million Americans over the age of four with a disability. That represents 19 percent of the a disability. That represents 19 percent of the population. Among that 19 percent, 14.3 million population. Among that 19 percent, 14.3 million Americans have a mental disability and 2.2 Americans have a mental disability and 2.2 million say they use a wheelchair.million say they use a wheelchair.

Three pieces of federal legislation have opened Three pieces of federal legislation have opened doors in all aspects of life for people with doors in all aspects of life for people with disabilities in the United States.disabilities in the United States.

The International Paralympic Games offer a The International Paralympic Games offer a venue in which to showcase the talents and venue in which to showcase the talents and abilities of the world's most elite athletes with abilities of the world's most elite athletes with physical disabilities. The multi-sport Paralympic physical disabilities. The multi-sport Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, second only to the Olympics. the world, second only to the Olympics.

Special Olympics is perhaps the best-known Special Olympics is perhaps the best-known organization for athletes with developmental organization for athletes with developmental disabilities. Special Olympics offers children disabilities. Special Olympics offers children and adults with mental retardation the and adults with mental retardation the opportunity to train and compete in 26 Olympic-opportunity to train and compete in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.type summer and winter sports.

RugbyRugby

American football is a distinct type of football that developed American football is a distinct type of football that developed in the United States in the 19th century from soccer and in the United States in the 19th century from soccer and rugby. It requires teams to run, throw and kick an oval ball rugby. It requires teams to run, throw and kick an oval ball across a 100-yard field (91.4 meters), is unrelated to the across a 100-yard field (91.4 meters), is unrelated to the game most of the world knows by that name, and which game most of the world knows by that name, and which Americans call soccer. Americans call soccer.

Football is played by school, college and professional teams Football is played by school, college and professional teams and is one of the most popular American sports, attracting and is one of the most popular American sports, attracting thousands of participants and millions of spectators annually.thousands of participants and millions of spectators annually.

The Super Bowl is the final contest of the NFL's season. Each The Super Bowl is the final contest of the NFL's season. Each year, on a Sunday at the end of January or beginning of year, on a Sunday at the end of January or beginning of February, tens of millions of Americans declare their own February, tens of millions of Americans declare their own unofficial holiday. unofficial holiday.

SoccerSoccer Peoples around the world have played Peoples around the world have played

soccer-style games for centuries. Games soccer-style games for centuries. Games similar to soccer were played in China similar to soccer were played in China more than 2,000 years ago. Such games more than 2,000 years ago. Such games were also played in ancient Greece and were also played in ancient Greece and Rome.Rome.

The popularity of youth soccer, and the The popularity of youth soccer, and the attention gained when the United States attention gained when the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994, led to hosted the World Cup in 1994, led to increased interest in the sport in the increased interest in the sport in the United States. In 1996 a new outdoor United States. In 1996 a new outdoor league, Major League Soccer (MLS), league, Major League Soccer (MLS), debuted with professional teams in 10 debuted with professional teams in 10 U.S. cities. Five years later, in 2001, a U.S. cities. Five years later, in 2001, a U.S. women's professional league, the U.S. women's professional league, the Women's United Soccer Association Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA), began its first season with 8 (WUSA), began its first season with 8 teams. There are some unique teams. There are some unique differences between the two leagues. differences between the two leagues. While MLS often loses its best players to While MLS often loses its best players to overseas clubs and can find few big stars overseas clubs and can find few big stars willing to play in the United States, the willing to play in the United States, the WUSA faces the reverse situation: it has WUSA faces the reverse situation: it has attracted the very best female players in attracted the very best female players in the world.the world.

TennisTennis TennisTennis, game played with a racket and a , game played with a racket and a

ball by two (as in singles) or four (as in ball by two (as in singles) or four (as in doubles) competitors, on a rectangular doubles) competitors, on a rectangular court with a net strung between the court with a net strung between the midpoints of the longer sides of the midpoints of the longer sides of the court. Tennis may be played indoors or court. Tennis may be played indoors or outdoors. The game ranks as one of the outdoors. The game ranks as one of the most popular spectator and participation most popular spectator and participation sports in the world, with fans and sports in the world, with fans and competitors in more than 100 countries. competitors in more than 100 countries. Originally called lawn tennis to Originally called lawn tennis to distinguish it from the sport of court distinguish it from the sport of court tennis, from which it was derived, the tennis, from which it was derived, the game is now commonly known as tennis.game is now commonly known as tennis.

After a successful serve the ball is hit After a successful serve the ball is hit back and forth until one player or side back and forth until one player or side fails to return the ball successfully. A fails to return the ball successfully. A shot is unsuccessful when a player lets shot is unsuccessful when a player lets the ball bounce twice, drives it into the the ball bounce twice, drives it into the net, or hits it beyond the boundaries of net, or hits it beyond the boundaries of the opposite side of the court.the opposite side of the court.

Scoring is identical in the singles and Scoring is identical in the singles and doubles games. A tennis game, when not doubles games. A tennis game, when not prolonged by a tie, is played to four prolonged by a tie, is played to four points, designated by the terms points, designated by the terms 15, 30, 15, 30, 40,40, and and gamegame

LacrosseLacrosse

Lacrosse was one of many Lacrosse was one of many varieties of indigenous varieties of indigenous stickball games being played stickball games being played by American Indians at the by American Indians at the time of European contact. time of European contact. Almost exclusively a male Almost exclusively a male team sport, it is distinguished team sport, it is distinguished from the others, such as field from the others, such as field hockey or shinny, by the use hockey or shinny, by the use of a netted racquet with of a netted racquet with which to pick the ball off the which to pick the ball off the ground, throw, catch and ground, throw, catch and convey it into or past a goal to convey it into or past a goal to score a point. The cardinal score a point. The cardinal rule in all varieties of lacrosse rule in all varieties of lacrosse was that the ball, with few was that the ball, with few exceptions, must not be exceptions, must not be touched with the hands.touched with the hands.

X-gamesX-games The sky is the limit, or so far The sky is the limit, or so far

it seems, for the it seems, for the snowboarders in Alaska. X snowboarders in Alaska. X marks the spot for a new marks the spot for a new generation of American generation of American enthusiasts, as so-called enthusiasts, as so-called extreme sports push the extreme sports push the very limits of the human very limits of the human endurance. For a new endurance. For a new generation of Americans, generation of Americans, pushing the envelope of pushing the envelope of sports laisure are all in a sports laisure are all in a day’s “work”. Be warned: day’s “work”. Be warned: these sports require psihycal these sports require psihycal training and even some training and even some addition to one’s vocabulary. addition to one’s vocabulary.