For many years I thought that the funniest sporting origin story I had ever heard was the “Fractured Fairy Tales” version of the origin of golf. According to Edward Everett Horton, the Fractured Fairy Tales narrator, golf was invented by a very clever King who came up with the idea of belting a little ball into a hole. The sport he created was so difficult that he, initially, … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2018
Sumo
I got off the train at Osaka and did not have the foggiest idea where to go. Or even in what direction to head. The jumble of busy streets and incomprehensible signs gave no indication. Boasting a Japanese vocabulary that might have stretched to half-a-dozen words on a good day, I was steeling myself for the ignominy of approaching a perfect stranger and asking plaintively, … [Read more...]
“The Magic Pudding” – a guide to what kids love and how risky play helps create young athetes
When controversial Australian painter and novelist Norman Lindsay was told by friends that he should write a children’s book he quickly took a liking to the idea. When his friends told him that the book should be about fairies, goblins and mythical creatures he laughed at the idea and said that kids aren’t into fantasy stuff… they just love fighting, sticking … [Read more...]