Why do some countries flourish at the Olympics and others founder? It’s a question that’s been studied for years. In general, rich countries fare better than poor ones, healthy countries better than sick and countries well connected with roads and bridges better than those lacking basic infrastructure. Harsh geopolitical and material inequalities don’t disappear when […]
After the 1996 Olympics were over, after her big press tour had ended, Amy Van Dyken went grocery shopping. In the cereal aisle, the six-time gold medalist swimmer saw herself smiling back at her from the rows of Wheaties boxes on the shelves. “I remember just standing there, looking at it, and being like, ‘That’s […]
In the spring, the White Sox promised to be baseball’s headiest blend of homer-mashing, single-blooping, base-thieving, run-piling offensive talent. “The opportunity is real,” Tony La Russa said in March of his new club’s championship chances, comparing the squad favorably to the successful and stylish ones he had managed in Oakland and St. Louis. But that […]
In the early days of NBA free agency, most teams are busy trying to level up. There are always 29 teams whose seasons ended in disappointment the year before, and for the most part, they want to make sure that doesn’t happen again. This year was no different. Some teams brought back free agency formulas […]
Professional golfer Alena Sharp started getting “the yips” whenever she would try to putt. She experienced severe anxiety and physical tension that crept up her arms and into her jaw. So she started using a technique called “quiet eye,” which not only improved her aim but also helped her calm her body and mind. In […]