The Sports Archives – Red Sox-Yankee Rivalry Rears Its Head!

Posted on July 5, 2012 by thesportsarchives

There are many famous rivalries in professional sports, but one of the fiercest is between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The Yankees are the team that everybody loves to hate, but the Red Sox fans hate them more than most baseball fans. They love to come down to Fenway Park to “boo” the Yankees loudly. This year The Yankees and Red Sox will be competing again in July; any true fans of either team wouldn’t dare miss the chance to outshine the other.

The two teams have maintained their rivalry since the early 1900s. The reasons for the rivalry are pretty obvious.

• The two cities are not far apart.
• They play in the American League East Division.
• Both teams claim to be the best franchise in Major League Baseball.

The Curse of the Bambino

It all started in 1920 when The Yankee’s acquired the most popular athlete in sports from the Red Sox; the infamous Babe Ruth. Ruth donned the famous Yankee uniform on January 5, 1920 and left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Red Sox and their fans. This trade was considered a serious loss for the team and would end their era of success for the time being. Both teams had always been competitive; however, the Ruth sale added fuel to the fire and initiated a deep-seated resentment that still lingers to this day, and for good reasons too. Before dealing Ruth to the Yanks, the Red Sox had won five World Series titles. After the sale, they went without a World Series championship for 86 years. During that same period, the Yankees had won 26 World Series titles.

The Curse is Broken, but the Rivalry Continues

The Red Sox finally overcame the curse by defeating the Yankees in the most amazing way during the 2004 American League Championship Series. The Sox rallied from a three-game deficit to beat the Yanks 4-3. Then, they swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first World Series in nearly nine decades. The defeat infuriated the Yankees and initiated a long term battle of the fittest. Baseball fans near and wide rally to witness the intense match-ups whenever The Yankees come to Fenway Park. These games are so highly anticipated that fans purchase their Red Sox tickets months ahead of time to ensure their attendance.

The Rivalry Continues

Yankees - Red Sox RivalryThe Red Sox and Yankees have already battled twice this season. The Yankees won both of the exciting, competitive games. The next series between the two teams is scheduled for the first week in July. The Red Sox want to dominate their division and completely bury the Curse of The Bambino. The Yankees want to prove that they’re the best team in baseball by beating the Sox and winning the World Series again. Whatever the outcome, the New York/Boston rivalry will continue to heat up the stadium whenever these two teams play.

Mercedes Potter is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow her @CedesPotter.

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The Sports Archives – Has The Modern Football Boot Increased The Number Of Injuries To Star Players?

Posted on July 3, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Football BootsThere is an argument that the modern football boot has increased the chance of injury for star players. These arguments are based in the belief that lighter boots, while fashionable, are not suitable for the pace and the strength of the modern game, and offer little protection from tackles. At the same time, evidence shows that players that do wear these lighter weight boots are more prone to injury. Figures from within football have also spoken out against the trend for wearing lighter boots, and have particularly criticized the poor matching of blades, rather than studs to grass. However, there are some counter arguments most notably that injuries result more from poor training regimes, and from the general pace of the modern game.

1 – Metatarsal Injuries

Lighter boots became a key part of Nike and Adidas brands in the 1990s and 2000s, with the boot moving from a purely practical role to becoming an advertisement for player endorsements, However, the lighter covering of the boot, while more aerodynamic, particularly exposes the ankles of players to damage. Players that have suffered metatarsal injuries to their ankles include David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.

2 – Injury Patterns

Studies into football injuries frequently identify how players that tend to wear lighter boots have been some of the most injured in the past few years. Frequent injury sufferers like Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen might, in some respects, link their ankle and metatarsal problems to their choice of sponsor boots.

3 – Selecting the Wrong Boot

One major argument against the modern football boot is that they are not suitable for the heavier pitches and longer grass that Premiership football players experience during the course of a longer season. In particular, boots that use blades over studs can become caught in long grass, leading players moving at high speeds to be caught up. Lighter boots with thinner studs can also lead to vulnerability from sliding tackles and balance for players.

4 – Internal Criticisms within the Game

Some notable figures from within the game have criticized the use of lighter boots and blades over studs. Manager Steve Bruce has particularly called out the problems caused by using blades on grass, and has pointed to the long-term injury of player Frazier Campbell while he was at Sunderland as an example. Campbell suffered a serious knee injury after his blades became caught in grass. Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia suffered a similar injury in 2010.

5 – Levels of Caution

Some caution can, however, be made over the responsibility of lighter boots andSoccer Cleats blades for injuries. Other factors that need to be taken into consideration include the intensity of preseason training, and how unfit players can suffer injuries on hard pitches. Moreover, the sheer pace of the game and the amount of fixtures and training sessions that players have to put their bodies through during the year raises the chance of injury by sheer number of games and repetitive strain. Players entering into the European Championships this year will surely have to deal with these problems, regardless of the boots they wear.

Citations:

Brought to you by the bloggers from livesport.co.uk. Get the latest TV listings for everything, from euro 2012 fixtures to cricket fixtures.

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The Sports Archives – What Does The Future Hold For Women’s Tennis?

Posted on July 2, 2012 by thesportsarchives

What Does The Future Hold For Women’s Tennis?

There’s a lot of conjecture at the moment surrounding the state of women’s tennis. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that the sudden rise of players outside the top ten to the finals of major tournaments is an indication that the real big hitters are taking turns of underachievement.

Sara Errani

Will Sara Errani lead Women’s Tennis?

The recent French Open saw both evidence of this and evidence of the contrary. While Sara Errani defied all expectations and reached the French Open final, the Italian was joined there by Maria Sharapova who came out on top and thereby secured a career Grand Slam.

Sharapova’s achievement is a clear example of one of women’s tennis’s biggest stars consolidating her position as a true legend of the sport. However, Errani’s achievement is perhaps an example of the continued trend for the women’s top ten to change frequently and for the top players to fail to get a stranglehold in the manner of the top men in the game.

The element of surprise

The men’s top four has included the same four players in various arrangements for a number of years now and this stability at the top is seen as a major source of excitement by most fans of the men’s game. The best players are consistently competing against one another for the major honours in finals.

The women’s game is much less predictable. We’ve seen the likes of Schiavona, Kvitova, Li and Stosur win Grand Slam competitions in recent years without building on those successes in order to cement their positions at the top of the game. Sharapova returned from a period of exile to dominate once again while the Williams sisters have disappointed of late.

In the past, the Williams sisters and others have slightly skewed the rankings by taking part in very few tournaments but performing extremely well in them, leading to a strange distribution of talent in the top ten that does not necessarily see the best at the summit, and that as result arranges the draws for majors in a manner that doesn’t see the best of the best compete with one another in the finals of the majors.

The nature of entertainment

It is hard to say what makes for the more exciting tournaments: those that always culminate in finals contested by the same set of leaders, as in the men’s game with the likes of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer and Murray; or those that more often than not spring a few surprises, as in the current women’s game.

What’s more important: consistent quality and lasting rivalries, or unpredictability and storytelling? Feel free to get involved in the debate.

Isabel Adams has an interest in women’s tennis, writing articles on behalf of Neill Newport.

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The Sports Archives – The Two Most Famous Runners to Have Won Gold at the Olympic Games!

Posted on June 30, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Running is a sport that takes athleticism and power.  There is a need for consistent self-reliance and a stamina that is almost unworldly.  The sport is recreational for some while for others it is a passion and career.  There is no better place for athletes in running than can be seen in the Olympics.  Several great athletes have become world known and famous because of their Olympic performances and the actions that they took while performing on the largest running stage.  The following discusses two of the most famous runners to have won gold at the Olympic Games.  From two different countries and with two different stories, the following two men have become synonymous with running and staples of inspiration in the running world.  Read their stories and see if you are inspired by their incredible journeys to the top of the medal podium.

A Hero Abroad Who Was Hated At Home

Jessie OwensThe story of runner Jesse Owens is one of the most aspiring stories to come from Olympic runners.  His running career begins early, but he really burst onto the scenes at the contentious and historic 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.  With Hitler and the Nazis gaining in power throughout Germany, these games were intended to be a chance for Germany to showcase their superior talents and the overall German strength.  Hitler became disgusted and utterly dumbfounded by the fact that America would include anyone but white individuals of Arian descent in their athletic team.  And then, he had to face them on the field of competition.

The U.S. won an impressive eleven gold medals, the majority of which were won by black athletes.  It was Jesse Owens, however, that was the most impressive and iconic athlete of the games.  Jesse Owens won four gold medals, three in individual race competitions and one in a team relay.  His performance frustrated Hitler to the point that rumours flew that he had stormed from the stadium.  This alone gained him status as one of the most famous runners and Olympic gold medallists of all times.  Furthering this was the fact that when Jesse Owens returned home to America, he received a chilly welcome.  He had been the hero of America overseas and came home to segregation and disrespect.  He simultaneously became known as the American hero and the representation of American racial hypocrisy.

Running With Religion

Eric LiddellIn 1924, Paris hosted the summer Olympics and a Christian runner made his name on the running scene.  Eric Liddell was born to missionary parents who worked to spread the word of Christ in China.  The Scottish gentleman grew up learning a love of God and a love of athletics as well.  Though rugby was his sport of choice, it was running that gained Eric Liddell his most notable international athletic accomplishment.  While at the 1924 games in Paris, the runner was put on centre stage for his country.  So much was he admired that Scottish bands played outside of the stadium hours before his race.  During his gold medal winning race of the four-hundred meters, Eric Liddell proved that he could do anything in the sport, including beat out the highly favoured Americans for a victory in gold while breaking world records.

It is not just this stellar performance, however, that the athlete was known for.  It was for his stance for what he believed.  Eric Liddell, as a devout Christian, believed that the Sabbath was to be observed in completion, even if the Olympics were occurring.  For this reason, he sat out races that were important both to him personally and to his team out of respect for the religion he so thoroughly believed.  His stance was seen around the world, with debate over his choice but widespread respect for his belief adherence.  He has become known in many circles as the missionary runner, and his reputation has lived on.

The two athletes above are clearly an inspiration to all.  If you want to exceed your own expectations, pick up some running clothing and give athletics a try.  You may just surprise yourself.

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The Sports Archives – Five of the Most Popular Marathons in the World

Posted on June 30, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Popularity in marathons derives itself from several different factors.  First, there is the size and toughness of the crowd of participants.  Sheer numbers alone do not make the marathon popular but the respect it earns.  The most popular marathons in the world also have a reputation for tremendous crowd support and unique sights along the way.  The following list explains more about the five most popular marathons in the world that a runner can race in.

New York Marathon

The New York Marathon is truly an experience, and often tops the lists of the best marathon runs that are out there.  The field of competitors is overwhelming and can even be star-studded, too.  Huge crowds gather to support the runners, standing over five deep on the marathon sides.  The crowd is made of many international runners who come to the streets of New York City to prove that they are the best runner in the world.  It has been said that this race has inspired many of the larger marathon races around the world, and seeing the event once can tell you just why this is the case.

Boston Marathon

Rosie Ruiz

Rosie Ruiz faked winning Boston Marathon – full story…

It may not have the field size of the New York Marathon, but the Boston Marathon has history on its side.  It is the location of the oldest known marathon in the world.  It is a runner’s dream to enter into this marathon and gaining acceptance is a badge of honor.  This is because the standards to enter and register for the event are extremely stringent.  This exclusive nature makes it a goal of many runners and creates a field of participants that are among the top runners in the world. It is for this reason that the Boston Marathon is one of the top five marathons in the world.

London Marathon

The London Marathon is one of the most popular and well-respected marathons in the world.  Many runners, internationally, place this marathon at the top of their must do or favorite marathons to complete.  The event takes place every April and involves an extremely large field of participants.  The marathon is touted as one of the most elite races, partially because of the organizational prowess of the event staff and partially because of the course itself.  The London Marathon began in 1981, and involves a running path that is both visually stunning and challenging.  Beginning in South-Eastern London and ending in St. James’s Park, the sights and sounds of London will be seen by all runners on the course.  There are hills that make it challenging and narrow areas that make it difficult, but the beauty of running past the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace can be a truly invigorating path.  For this reason, and many more, it is a top race for any marathon runner.

Berlin Marathon

The crowds around the celebration of the Berlin Marathon are one of the highlights of this race.  The course is tough and interesting.  Runners will pass all different types of building in varying architectural patterns as they traverse the streets of Berlin.  It has been said that you can see the history of Germany as you pass these grand buildings and this may not be an overstatement.  It truly is a must for any history buff runner that is out there.

Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon is another great American marathon that is ever-growing in respect and prowess.  Most recently it has become a contender for the awards of both biggest and best race in the country, and arguably the world.  It is a fast paced course that has been carefully developed by race organizers and event creators.  It is a one-loop running course that features the quintessential Chicago elements.  High-rise buildings that reach into the skies and highly diverse neighborhoods are all part of the course plan and it is for this reason that so many runners and tourists alike come out to be part of the event.

If you are thinking about participating in one of the above marathons buy yourself a pair of Brooks Running Shoes to ensure your feet are happy even on the 25th mile!

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The Sports Archives – Cole on Course for a Century!

Posted on June 29, 2012 by thesportsarchives

Ashley ColeAshley Cole is fast closing in on a phenomenal football record…and has just seen off another in the process.

The strong-arm of England’s defence this week became England’s most capped tournament player, having made his 21st appearance and overtaking David Beckham and Peter Shilton en route.

With 97 games for his country now under his belt, the Chelsea man is rapidly approaching a century…with only a handful of players standing in his way as the most capped player ever to have donned an England shirt.

Having made his debut in 2001 in a winning world cup qualifier against Albania, his first competition at international level came in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Re-writing the History Books

Now, having served under four different managers at six world cup and European championships, Cole is on course to re-write the history books completely with only five players ahead of him in having shown their allegiance to their country more times.

Beckham remains England’s most capped outfielder on 115 appearances, with goalkeeper Shilton holding the outright record on 125.

At the age of 31, Cole has the potential for plenty more international action.

He has played almost every minute of every England match since a 1-1 draw against Sweden when he was 21.

Player of the Year

Alongside his England caps, he has seven F.A cups, three league championships and a championship league title to his name. Football fans voted him England Player of the Year in 2010.

  • The quarter-final on Sunday will be his 98th appearance; if England made the semi final it would have been 99….and – against all the odds it would seem – if they g0t to the final he would have celebrated his ton!
  • One record he’ll never eclipse however is that of legend Bobby Charlton’s long-standing 49 goals for England…the outstanding left back has never found the net in an international competition.
  • Of his 97 games for his country, Cole has played on 60 winning sides, has drawn 24 times, and lost 13.
  • Steven Gerrard is hard on Cole’s heels…he has played for England 95 times. The injured Frank Lampard is currently on 90.

The current table of England centurions is:

Nicki Williams can’t wait for Sunday’s quarter final clash with Italy.

She writes for Gear-Zone, on-line stockists of outdoor clothing and sportswear, including football boots, Euro 2012 national strips, specialist goalkeeping equipment and Adidas, Mitre and Puma footballs.

 Picture source: Compfight

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The Sports Archives – How Do Sailing Boats Work?

Posted on June 29, 2012 by thesportsarchives

What could be more exciting, relaxing, and rewarding than sailing the open seas. Every year thousands take to the seas, waterways and rivers to enjoy the beauty of sailing. The earliest historical account of sailing found contained a painted disc believed to be around the 5th century B.C. Sailing’s early roots were to engage in trade, transportation, exploration and act as a vessel for colonization and war. Today, these yachts and boats serve another purpose, to provide us with pleasure.

There is only one thing better than taking a trip on a yacht and that is to master and skipper the vessel. Anyone who tries navigating a yacht will experience a wonderful sense of accomplishment and freedom. A simple starting point is to learn the different parts of a yacht and their functions, which will allow you to become a more proficient sailor.

The basic parts of a sailboat include; the hull, the sail, the rudder, the keel, the mast. Each part acts in tandem to make the yacht work as a single unit. The sails come in two parts referred to as the main sail and the small headsail. The main sail provides a large proportion of the drive, while the headsail can be placed on different points of sail and can be adjusted according to the direction of the wind.

The Main Sail

The main sail can be found directly behind the main mast and can be adjusted to capture the most wind, in contrast the staysail remains stationary. The staysail is fore-and-aft sail, set on a stay, with the fixed position of the staysail fastened on the jib. Sometimes, depending on the size of the vessel, there could be more than one main sail and staysails.

The Hull

The main part of the vessel which is submerged by water is the hull. The hull comes in many shapes, which is determined by the purpose of the vessel. Boats designed for speed do better with a hull that comes to a point, while flat bottom boats are best in shallow water and slower speeds. Sailboats have three basic hull types. The one used most on boats is the monohull, which is used mainly for sailing and racing boats. Multi hulls have two or more hulls, a style used by most catamarans. Finally, the simplest hull type is flat, like a surfboard with a sail.

The Keel

The keel has several functions. First, and foremost it helps to stabilize the boat and keep it from turning over in a strong wind. It is a hydrodynamic element which helps to expedite the boat through water. There is the fin keel, which is both smaller and faster than a full keel.

The Rudder

The rudder is a piece of metal, fiberglass, or wood connected to the stern of the vessel. Its primary purpose is to steer the vessel by changing the direction of the water as it passes through the hull or the fuselage. The result is that whichever way the rudder turns that is the direction the boat goes.

The Mast

The mast is a pole that holds and supports the sails. It supports the running rigging, which is all of the wires ropes that keep the sails under control. Depending on the size of the ship, there may be more than one mast. The guy mast is a type of mast that receives support from guy lines which is a series of tension wires that stabilize the mast. Normally, the guy line is a simple rope, however if it is attached to a mast antenna, it is made of conductive materials.

Sailing a yacht can be an exciting and rewarding pleasure. It is advisable to take a day skipper course, with a RYA approved provider such as mustang sailing.

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The Sports Archives – The Jaguar E Type: The iconic Shape of British Motoring?

Posted on June 28, 2012 by thesportsarchives

When we think of motoring around the world and the icons they have produced, there are many stark examples that stand out above the rest that can be easily related to their country of inception. We look at North America and motoring icons such as the Ford GT40, the Corvette and the Mustang, and then we look at Italy and the icons that have been sculpted from the home of Ferrari, the 250 GTO, the 275 GTB/4 and Ferrari’s rivals Lamborghini with the Muira.

1964 Jaguar XKE E Type Coupe Side

1964 Jaguar XKE E Type Coupe Side

But when you think of Great Britain, there is only one car that springs to mind that has stood the test of time where British Motoring is concerned, and that is the Jaguar E type.

Upon its release in Series 1 form, the car produced a huge storm of interest which made even the biggest of Jaguar’s competitor’s fall to their knees in admiring the sheer beauty of the thing. In fact when the car was revealed to the world Enzo Ferrari himself stated it was “The most beautiful car ever made”. This was an era where Ferrari was producing cars such as the 275 GTB/4 and the 250 SWB, some of the best looking cars in motoring history.

With 150 mph performance it wasn’t all just all show and no go too, this came as a huge surprise to the public as speeds over 150 mph in the 60’s were always reserved for the Supercar elite of Ferrari and Maserati. But one factor dwarfed all others when it came to wanting an E Type and that was the astonishing price.

During the early 60’s The Jaguar E Type was up to 4 times cheaper than the nearest rivals from Ferrari, Aston Martin and Maserati. For the price and performance coupled with the stunning beauty it became the bargain of the decade. Through its 13 year lifespan the car sold over 70,000 examples and was updated twice which led the car to have Series 1, 2 and 3 (the latter featuring the gorgeous 5.3L V12 engine that purred rather growled compared with the earlier series straight 6’s).

Recently celebrating its 50th birthday, the E –Type looks no better on the road than it did during the 1960’s, the car’s beauty seemingly growing as it has got older – something that most classic cars cannot claim. This pays testament to the design which has seen it placed at the top of most beauty contests in the world of Motoring, including first in the 100 Most Beautiful cars ever to be made and first in the most desirable car list in the 60’s.

It is no secret many car enthusiasts around the world would look at placing an E Type in their dream car garage. The car is simply flawless in every way, the sculptured arches wrap around the tires while the narrow mouth at the front gives it an aggressive stance. The engine is what makes the car however, the 4.2 L Straight 6 from the Series 2 delivers one of the most desirable sounds imaginable with a lion-like growl as it climbs the rev range.

The E Type Jag has an unshakable reputation that ranks it as one of the most iconic cars of all time. It was the culmination of everything that is great about British engineering and the car was able to show the world what Britain was really capable of when creating a fantastic sports car.

It leaves us with a final question – Can the E Type ever be bettered? I for one do not think so.

James Parker Is Business Developments Manager of Official Merchandise and also permanent blogger and writer.

Most of his work can be found on the Official Merchandise Blog which he manages full-time.

With a huge interest for Automotive/Motorsport and a Formula 1 fan, his passion is in the writing of the industry and sport he has loved for over 14 years now.

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The Sports Archives – The English Game: An Eternally Tasteless Affair?

Posted on June 27, 2012 by thesportsarchives

The English Game: An Eternally Tasteless Affair?

Premier League Trophy

English Premier League – Too Ostentatious?

Modern football isn’t really associated with taste and reserve. A lot is made out of the fact that footballers earn obscene amounts of cash – far more than seems in any way tasteful even taking into account the fact that the game is worth so much in terms of entertainment. The fact that the latest Premier League rights deal broke the £3billion barrier is evidence to the lucrative nature of the sport, but that’s no excuse for it being sheer ostentatious.

The Premier League

Premier League footballers are particularly given to the ostentatious. They rarely demonstrate a sense of taste and style when shopping for homes, second homes, third homes, cars, engagement rings, holidays or anything else that gives them the opportunity to make use of their wealth. When money is no object, there isn’t necessarily anything to temper a natural proclivity towards bling and that’s partly to blame for the lack of class and sophistication in the current sporting set.

However, the ostentatious streak is actually something that is evident in so many parts of the game above and beyond its stars. The Premier League trophy has to be one of the most unsightly and tasteless cups in history. Admittedly, the La Liga trophy isn’t much better so the lack of taste is not limited to England, but you’d have to say the SPL trophy is much more original and sophisticated, and tellingly the SPL is hardly renowned for its financial clout.

Cheap, cheap, cheap

The pomp and ceremony surrounding British sporting events often runs massively over budget and ends up looking tacky and tasteless and football reporting has become a swathe of column inches devoted to speculation, downright invention and shallow journalism that has more in common with the gossip pages of the glossies than with serious and considered comment. It makes you wonder – how can something worth so much money give the impression of being so incredibly cheap?

It would be nice to think that English football could turn a new leaf – one based on the sport and the integrity of competition rather than on big business and cheap spectacle. It would be nice to think we could see a collection of talented and admirable individuals competing for a stylish and tasteful trophy in a sophisticated environment delivered as entertainment in a refined and engaging manner.

It would be nice to think that football didn’t have to be subject to a gimcrack front in order to keep us interested. Perhaps you disagree and you love the ostentation or interpret it as something totally different – some sort of prestige or standing. In any case, we’d love to know what you think.

Gary Fellowes writes articles on behalf of Millennium Awards Ltd

Millennium Awards Ltd
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The Sports Archives – 5 National Sports You Didn’t Know Existed!

Posted on June 26, 2012 by thesportsarchives

5 National Sports You Didn’t Know Existed

With The Summer Olympics coming up from London, a lot of focus is being put on sports from around the world. What about the sports that don’t get international attention? These 5 sports are the national sport of their home countries, but you may not even know that they exist.

Tejo (Columbia) – A foreign spectator might mistake Tejo for a game of horseshoes with a lot more firepower. In Tejo players toss metal disks down an approximately 60 foot track in an effort to make contact with another disk that is covered in gunpowder. There are a few different ways to score, including getting the gunpowder to explode. Traditionally the game is played while intoxicated, and most teams and tournaments are sponsored by beer companies. Despite the use of alcohol and explosives, most players claim the actual risk of injury is very small. (Source: Lonely Planet)

CapoeiraCapoeira (Brazil) – While most of us would assume that Soccer orJujitsu is the national sport of Brazil, in reality the traditional dance/martial art Capoeira holds the title. Developed by slaves brought over to Brazil by the Portuguese, Capoeira is real-life dance fighting, and not the kind of dance fighting that takes place in movies like, “You Got Served.” Legend has it that slaves designed Capoeira as a way to practice martial arts without their owners taking notice. Capoeira has recently grown in popularity thanks in part to the success of Brazilian born mixed martial artists competing in the UFC. (Source: Capoeira NYC)

Kabaddi (Bangladesh) – Kabaddi is, by some accounts, the most violent game in the kabaddiworld. A mix of wrestling and rugby, an attacking player runs onto the court and attempts to touch as many of the defending team’s players as possible without taking a breath. If the player breaths before returning to his home base he is out. The defending team does everything they can to block, tackle and wrestle the attacking player away from their base. (Source: kabaddi.org)

PatoPato (Argentina) – Pato is a traditional Argentine game that looks like a mix between polo, basketball and Quidditch. Teams compete on horseback to throw a ball wrapped in leather through an opponents’ hoop. The game has been banned in Argentina on several occasions due to the barbaric early versions of the game which included the use of a live duck (un pato) in place of the ball. The game was reinstated once and for all in 1938 and is now played across South America, North America and Europe. (Source: Argentina.ar)

Cirit (Turkey) – The origins of Cirit go back more than 1000 years and it is one of many equestrian sports practiced in Turkey. Two teams line up on opposite sides of the field and the first player, usually the youngest on the team, rides towards the opposing team verbally calling out one of their players. The player who has been called then attempts to chase down the first player and hit them with a (thrown) javelin. If the thrower misses, a second player from the first team comes out and begins to chase him back to his side of the field, and so on. While Cirit is traditionally a very violent game, it has recently become less dangerous with players choosing to throw light weight sticks instead of the traditional javelin.  (Source: allaboutturkey.com)

Kenny Soto is a writer for the blog at MyMove.com. For more information about sports and other traditions from around the world, including how to buy the perfect housewarming gift visit My Move today.

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