This article was originally published on May 10th, 2019.
Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.
Football news that I am learning about -
The NFL announced a major UK initiative with the opening of a training academy in London, starting in September of this year. The NFL Academy will offer student-athletes ages 16 to 18 “the opportunity to combine education with the life skills and intensive training in the sport under full-time professional coaches,” the league said in a statement.
Article I have been reading -
Early Baseball Contracts, by John Thorn (@thorn_john), the Official Historian for Major League Baseball. The article offers an interesting insight into how professional baseball contracts worked in the early days of the sport. Thorn shows off a contract from National League team Cleveland, in 1890, for Cy Young. The salary would have been $103 per month for 14 months.
Hockey news I'm keeping an eye on -
Several of the best women's hockey players have announced that they have decided to boycott the upcoming NWHL season, as they seek adequate resources and support. A statement from more than 200 women's players stated “Having no health insurance and making as low as $2,000 a season means players can’t adequately prepare to play at the highest level. Because of that, together as players, we will not play in ANY professional leagues in North America this season until we get the resources that professional hockey demands and deserves.”
Historical footage I have been interested in -
Despite the NBA playoffs being in full swing, basketball has yet to captivate me as a sport. However, I have recently found a new appreciation for the modern version of the game after coming across highlights of basketball games from the 1930s and realizing just how much the game has evolved.
A came that captivated me is an Illinois high school game between Morton and Granton, from 1932. Especially one particular piece of play that I will try and describe. We start with player A and player B both choosing to stand completely flat-footed, near center court, and pass the ball between one another seven times, the eighth pass includes player B trying to shake things up with a step back. But if you think that there are only 2 letters in the alphabet think again as player C receives the next pass, before returning the ball straight back to player A and then A and B pass back and forth six more times. However, player C is a man of action and he has shifted over a couple of feet to receive the pass, before passing the ball to B, who for the first time dribbles so he can move while possessing the basketball (also known as doing something). Player D now comes into the game receiving the ball and dribbles up the court a few feet, before returning the ball back to B, who has returned to his original position. A then receives the ball and chooses to dribble up the court a few more feet, before choosing to pass back to B, who passes to D, before back to B. Then after twenty-four passes, player B finally shoots and you can find out if he makes it below at 6:36.
What I've been watching -
Meru, a 2015 documentary by husband and wife duo Jimmy Chin (@jimkchin) and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi. Meru follows a group of climbers as they try to ascent the "Sharks Fin" route of Meru peak. The film captures the team's first failed attempt in 2008 and their second successful attempt in 2011.
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Jonathan
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