Awesome Sports

During Ireland’s prep for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, an infamous confrontation erupted between the team’s hot-headed captain (Éanna Hardwicke) and national team manager (Steve Coogan). The intense rivalry gripped Ireland and transcended the game, becoming one of sport history’s most fractious fights and a helluva entertaining story. Premieres 1.1.2026.

The Inferno Race is the longest downhill ski race in the world. Skier Leonhard Rombach takes us on a first-person ride down the Alpine slopes in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Along the course, skiers hit speeds nearing 100 km/h and are tasked with a brief, blood-pumping uphill climb about 2/3rds of the way through the race.

You know the three-legged race game that people play at company picnics to get them to work together? This is like that but at a much higher level. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, the traditional Chinese sport of board-shoe racing forces cooperation by strapping three athletes’ feet to a pair of wooden boards so they must run in lock-step.

The 2024-25 NBA season is off to an injury-riddled start, but it’s also one that’s exciting and intriguing, with many worthy challengers to the reigning champ Boston Celtics. The NBA is maintaining the hype in the greatest way possible by giving us a rare peek at the practice sessions and training camps of 10 teams, including the Warriors, Lakers, and the champs.

“I’m like a… king of all trades. I think that’s what the saying is?” Netflix’s upcoming series goes behind the scenes of the 2023-24 NBA season through the eyes and experiences of LeBron James, Jason Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis. We know how it ends, but this time, we find out how they got there. Premieres 10.9.24.

Michael MacKelvie dives into the alluring concept of The Hot Hand in basketball: the belief that when a player makes a couple of successful shots, it increases the probability that they will make succeeding ones. For decades, it was considered as statistical nonsense. But more recent studies factor in the human element: confidence. Just ask France.

Luxe fashion brand Michel&Amazonka designed the stunning uniforms that Mongolia’s Olympic athletes will wear at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The uniforms are comprised of a sweater, a skirt, and a vest with beautiful golden embroidery, accented by piping based on the country’s flag.

“I’m 41 years old. I’ve played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years.” This documentary follows Roger Federer as he prepares for the 2022 Laver Cup and his imminent decision to retire. The film also features interviews with Federer himself, along with his wife Mirka, and his rivals Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andry Murray. Coming to Prime Video.

Half as Interesting simplifies the math behind the underhanded free throw, AKA the granny shot. Popularized by NBA legend Rick Barry, the shot makes players shoot significantly better in exchange for looking like they don’t know what they’re doing. Even the greatest of stat stuffers couldn’t bear to stick with it. It’s a fun reminder of human nature.

The tale that exploded with “the tape heard around the world.” Based on the 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs, Clipped is a six-episode mini-series centered on the 2014 racism scandal of former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Starring Laurence Fishburne as coach Doc Rivers and Ed O’Neill as Donald Sterling. Premieres 6.4.24 on Hulu.

It’s hard enough to protect a soccer goal from a single kicker, so what happens to the goalie when a hundred balls are kicked their way? The gang from How Ridiculous tested this and other ideas where the visiting team has way more players than the home team. Every game basically turns into dodgeball on steroids.

Boston’s Bridge and Harbor handcrafts accessories from leather and wool. Among their wares are these motel-style key fobs sewn from leather reclaimed from vintage footballs, baseball gloves, boxing speed bags, and hockey goalie gloves. They also make unique wallets from the same kinds of materials.

This incredible footage shows athlete and Olympic gold medalist Kjeld Nuis breaking the world record for the fastest speed ice skating ever. He achieved his 103 km/h (64 mph) top speed skating on a frozen lake in Norway, inside a specially-designed enclosure to shelter him from wind resistance.

Can wayward pickleballs float? Asking for friends booked on AmaWaterways’ river voyages, where summer cruisers will be the first ever to play America’s fastest-growing sport while sailing past picturesque towns and castles along Europe’s gorgeous Danube river. AmaWaterways has plenty of extra balls stowed away in case of the occasional overboard slam/splash.

Writer/director Taika Waititi takes a break from big-budget superhero movies with a return to indie form. Next Goal Wins is a lighthearted underdog comedy about a coach (Michael Fassbender) who reluctantly relocates to American Samoa to help fix the world’s worst international soccer team.

We previously enjoyed a few snowy days driving the Ram 1500 TRX. After another week of living with this bonkers truck in warmer and drier surroundings, we’re convinced no production pickup’s more fun-to-drive or off-road capable. This one looks incredible, bathed in pearl-coat Hydro Blue paint with black accents.