The Sports Archives – Olympics Watch 2014!

Posted on February 10, 2014 by thesportsarchives
View on Sotsji from Black Sea

View on Sochi from Black Sea

With the Olympics Opening Ceremony taking place on February 7, fans throughout the world will be tuning in to watch their favorite contenders compete for the gold medal. As usual, the Olympics promise to be an exciting sporting event where previous champions and underdogs alike have the chance to compete for the world’s most coveted medals. As with previous Olympics, there will be some intense rivalries, surprising upsets, and inspiring underdog stories that emerge from Sochi. Here are a few things you’ll want to know about the Olympics:

1.) Sochi is the Center of it All

The previously unknown Russian city has been thrust into the international spotlight in a big way. A popular summer resort city with a population of around 300,000, Sochi is now better known as the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Positioned on the coast of the Black Sea, the Russian port city will turn into a bustling hub during the Olympic games. Although there have been safety concerns because of southern Russia’s tumultuous history, Olympic officials are confident that the city will be a safe place to compete.

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The Sports Archives – A Brief History of Ice Hockey!

Posted on February 7, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Antiek hockeyThe name hockey is most likely derived from the word hoquet, a word in Middle French used for describing a shepherd’s stave, which had a curved or hooked end.  Throughout the ages, there have been many recordings of a game played with curved sticks used for hitting a ball-like object.  Dating back to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, games similar to modern field hockey are depicted in sketches and carvings.

Field hockey took the form of ice hockey in the northern sections of the world and by the 19th century, governing bodies sprang up to organize the sport.  Canada took the lead with British soldiers and immigrants from Iceland playing different adaptations of the game in Nova Scotia.  One form of the game was called Shinney or Shinny and the name is stilled used in Canadian slang meaning an informal or pick-up ice or street hockey game.  “Nice day for a game of Shinney…eh?”

Early indoor ice hockey rink

Montreal, Canada lays claim to the first organized indoor ice hockey game which was played at Victoria Skating Rink on March 3, 1875.  Two teams of 8 players and a goalie skated for 60 minutes using a puck instead of ball so it would stay in the board-less rink and not hit the spectators  (That must have been one heavy puck!).  The word puck was derived from the Scots Gaelic puc or the Irish poc (to poke, punch or deliver a blow) according to the Austin Hockey Association.  The hockey goals were 6 feet wide as they are today!

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The Sports Archives – Sports and Injuries!

Posted on February 6, 2014 by thesportsarchives

The benefits of playing sports are numerous. Improved cardiovascular health and team-building skills are just a few of the positives. However, the primary risk in playing sports is the potential for sports injuries. Head injuries and lower-body injuries are the most prevalent among athletes. The type and frequency of sports injuries tends to vary on the sport. For example, head injuries are a major issue in American football due to high-impact collisions, whereas basketball players are more prone to lower-body injuries due to their constant movement. Sports injuries have spurred controversies and lawsuits, no matter the sport, but many athletes continue to play and perform despite the risks.

Football and the Head Injury Epidemic

Football is the most dangerous sport, with 35 average injuries per game, which is nine more injuries per game on average than the second most dangerous sport, wrestling. In 2011, 274,455 football players suffered head injuries. One year later, that prompted 4,500 players to file lawsuits against the NFL for brain trauma or head injuries. As a result, the NFL settled for $765 million, which went into a 50-year fund that covers players’ head-related injury expenses. Shoulder injuries, lower arm injuries and lower trunk injuries are among the other most popular injuries caused by football. Yet, with ex-NFL players over the age of 50 being diagnosed with dementia at 5 times the national average, head injuries are clearly the most concerning for the NFL.

Soccer’s More Unconventional Risks

Soccer players may have to worry less about head trauma, but there are some surprising aspects of a soccer match with potential harm, including the goal post. Between 1979 and 2008, there were 38 deaths and 38 serious injuries from goal posts falling over. The epidemic included non-professionals as well. In that same time span, 1,800 school-age soccer players went to the E.R. for post-related injuries. Predictably, post-related injuries have inspired lawsuits, like the one a 20-year-old man filed against the Soccer Association of Columbia after a goal post crushed one of his eyes after falling. He received no compensation because, according to Maryland law, one cannot receive a monetary settlement in an accident if they have 1% or more personal involvement in that accident.

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The Sports Archives – Meet The U.S. Women’s Ice Skating Team!

Posted on February 4, 2014 by thesportsarchives

With the Olympic opening ceremony just a few days away, fans throughout the world will soon have the chance to watch their favorite athletes compete. And, like in every Olympics, there will probably be a few unheard of athletes who will become standout stars (such as gymnast Gabby Douglas during the London 2012 Olympics, who captured both the individual all-around gold and our hearts with her gigantic smile and incredible talent.)

This year, three talented women will be representing the United States in the figure skating department. Here are a few things you’ll want to know about them.

1.) Ashley Wagner

Ashley Wagner - 2010 Cup of RussiaAt 22, Wagner was the most experienced ice skater vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. She won back-to-back U.S. Championships in 2012 and 2013 and has more international experience than any of the other girls. However, during the U.S. Championships in 2014, she fell twice during the freestyle skating program, raising doubts about whether she would be selected to represent America in Sochi. However, she was eventually given a spot on the team because of the “body of her work.” “I am happy my federation was able to see beyond one bad skate,” an emotional Wagner stated. The U.S. ice skating federation is hoping that Wagner’s experience on the international field can help lead the team to success.

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The Sports Archives – The Most Iconic Moments In the History of Sports!

Posted on February 3, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Watching sporting events allows us to catch a glimpse into how humanity and athletic perfection can come together. Seeing the emotional response from athletes allows us to share in their accomplishment. Throughout the ages, there have been a number of greatest moments that can only be defined as iconic. Reliving them is a way to connect with the past and share the excitement of sheer perfection all over again.

Related Blogs:
Greatest Moments – NFL’s “The Catch”
Greatest Moments – Boxing’s “The Fighter” Micky Ward
Greatest Moments – Brandi Chastain clinching 1999 Women’s World Cup

Iconic Sports Moments

Source: AmericanGolf.com

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The Sports Archives – An Infographic About the Greatest College Football Programs of All-Time!

Posted on January 31, 2014 by thesportsarchives

A good coach matters more in football than any other American sport. This is especially true in college football, where a coach is the head of the program both on game day and on recruiting visits.

So who are the greatest coaches in college football history? The following infographic includes the 10 winningest coaches ever. The top three are worth highlighting especially. These men are:

1. Eddie Robinson, 408-165: Robinson was head coach at Grambling State University (Louisiana) from 1941 to 1997, an astonishing 57 seasons. He coached several future NFL greats including Doug Williams and Willie Davis.

2. Bobby Bowden, 377-129: Bowden was the longtime coach at Florida State University, winning two national championships. By default, he became the winningest coach all-time after the NCAA vacated all of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno‘s wins from 1998 to 2011.

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The Sports Archives – The Top Three Golf Comedy Movies Of The Last 20 Years!

Posted on January 30, 2014 by thesportsarchives

GrampsA 92nd Birthday 160

* Photo by Eric Schmuttenmaer / CC BY-SA 2.0

Some of the most well-known golf movies released more recently have been dramas, such as The Legend of Baggervance and The Greatest Game Ever Played. But if you prefer a more lighthearted look at the game, the comedy genre has offered up some films worth a look. These are the mainstream movies. There have been some recent indie film offerings in this niche as well, but finding sufficient information for those films, let alone a copy of one to watch, proved difficult. So here are my suggestions, in no particular order.

Tin Cup (1996)

Tin Cup Movie PosterOne of the best known and most enjoyable films in the comedy niche is the 1996 romantic comedy Tin Cup. Kevin Costner stars as washed up golf pro Roy McAvoy who falls in love with the girlfriend (played by Renee Russo) of his arch rival David Simms (played by Don Johnson). Costner’s character ends up revitalizing his golf career and challenging his rival in the US Open while trying to win the girlfriend’s heart. The always entertaining Cheech Marin also co-stars as Costner’s friend and caddy. Being a romantic comedy, it can be a little predictable at parts, but it’s entertaining anyway. This is generally considered by many to be one of Kevin Costner’s best performances.

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The Sports Archives – Clyde Wetsuits – The Wreck Of The MV Akka!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by thesportsarchives

River Clyde at Port Glasgow

The waters of the River Clyde – Glasgow’s great river – have been the birthplace of many great ships, but they have also been the graveyard of a few others.  The largest vessel to come to grief in the Clyde Estuary was also one of the most recent; the 5,400 ton Swedish freighter, Akka.

Disaster strikes

Built in Gothenburg at the height of the second world-war, Akka spent most of her life in the Swedish iron-ore trade.  It was on such a routine voyage from her home port of Oxelosund bound for Glasgow that she met her untimely end.  After an uneventful five-day voyage, as darkness fell on 9th April 1956, Akka rounded the Mull of Kintyre and, with Arran on her port beam, entered the shelter of the Firth of Clyde.  As she approached the narrows off Innellan, her master, Captain Sundin, rang down to reduce speed ready to take on the Clyde pilot.  At the same time he ordered the helm to starboard to clear the Gantocks, the treacherous knife-edged rocks south-east of Dunoon.  It quickly became clear that something was wrong.  Akka failed to respond to her helm and, with his vessel approaching the hidden menace of the Gantocks, Captain Sundin rang stop main engine.  Why he did not put his engine astern at this point is unclear.  However, Akka was now doomed.  Although some may had fallen off the ship, she struck hard on the rocks, tearing a significant hole in her hull plating.  Although full astern was now called for, it was far too late to save the fully laden ship and she sank within 5 minutes.

Owing to the position of the wreck, listed by the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland as just to the north-east of one of the most dangerous navigation hazards in the Clyde, it was initially thought that the Akka could be left undisturbed while salvage was considered, despite the fact that her masts and funnel showed above water, particularly at low tide.  However, later in 1956, a fishing trawler struck the submerged upper superstructure of the wreck and wet-suited naval divers were sent to flatten the upperworks, masts and funnel with explosive charges.  Nonetheless, the wreck remains substantially intact and, lying upright in between around 30 metres of water, is arguably one of the most popular dives on the west coast of Scotland.

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The Sports Archives – Heartwarming Story Of Jamaican Bobsled Team!

Posted on January 27, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Yeah Jamaica we have a bobsled team!

Jamaica’s Unexpected Bobsled Beginning

Cool RunningsAudience goers everywhere fell in love with the Jamaican bobsled team thanks to the 1993 movie “Cool Runnings.” The film was based on the team’s first time competing in the Olympics during the 1998 winter games. As competitors from a tropical region, the Jamaican team faced derision and scorn during the winter games. No one believed that the team had a serious chance of placing in the Olympics. However, they quickly became fan favorites after being hailed as the ultimate underdogs. Other teams began helping them out through giving them advice about bobsledding and letting them borrow sleds for competition. Although their attempt ended unsuccessfully with a crash, the heartwarming tale still had fans everywhere cheering. (In the movie, the bobsledders carry their sled over the finish line; in real life, rescuers had to come help them.)

Return to Bobsledding After 12 Year Absence

This year, it looks like the Jamaican bobsled team may be gearing up for the perfect sequel to “Cool Runnings.” The team qualified for the Olympics again for the first time in 12 years. And it sounds like it’s going to be an inspiring comeback story. Bobsled pilot Winston Watts, a veteran of three Winter Olympic Games, returned from retirement to help lead his country to the Olympics once more. 46-year-old Watts and his team member managed to qualify in the 2-man bobsled race. He told BBC Sports that qualifying for the Olympics “means the world to Jamaica. We have dominated in summer sports like athletics and now we’ve qualified for the Winter Olympics.”

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The Sports Archives – 4 Facts About The 2014 Winter Olympics!

Posted on January 26, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics official logo

My first memory of the winter Olympics revolved around watching 15-year-old Tara Lipinski dazzle the judges and audiences everywhere with her flawless performances and radiant energy during the 1998 games. I’ve been an ardent fan of the winter Olympics ever since. With sports ranging from ice skating to bobsledding to cross country skiing, the winter Olympics boasts a full roster of interesting sports and inspiring performances. Here are a few things to know about this year’s Olympics:

1.) The Olympics Are Less Than 3 Weeks Away

The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics will commence on Friday, February 7 with an Opening Ceremony and end on Sunday, February 23 with a closing ceremony. During the intervening 17 days, there will be hundreds of athletics competing for their countries.

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