Social Workout

Workout

Is it Lame That I Spent My Birthday Working Out?

Yesterday was my 33rd birthday.  Since all my closest friends seem to hate each other at the moment, I decided I'd rather spend it alone than to try to get people  who are currently at odds with each other together for drinks or whatnot and have to deal with all that stress and tension. 

Infectious Enthusiasm

The Direction of the Cheering Matters

Here's a new study about the contagiousness of human enthusiasm that will A) lead you to future intramural sports domination; and B) help you scientifically predict the outcome of World Cup games. Researchers at the University of Groningen watched an endless number of soccer match penalty kicks in tied-to-that-point matches and scored players on the enthusiasm they expressed after scoring a penalty kick point. The teams of the players who went bananas after scoring, e.g. hooping, hollering, throwing both hands in the air, usually wound up winning. Theoretical explanation: All that enthusiasm infected their teammates and intimidated their opponents. In fact, the effect was so strong that when a player cheered with both arms in the air, it was more than twice as likely that the next opponent to take a penalty shot would miss. But researchers found something else, too. The cheering — one hand, two hands, whatever — didn't work as well if the player faced the crowd. Crowd support is well and good, but you have to spread your infection on the field.

Wake Up Call

On Grief

Given a choice between grief and nothing, I'd choose grief.

~ William Faulkner

Don't Follow Soccer but Want to Impress Your Friends?

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Wake Up Call

On Goals

A goal is a dream with a deadline.

~ Napoleon Hill

World Cup

Brazilian Refs Cramming With Profanity Flashcards

In preparation for the U.S. versus England match at the World Cup, the Brazilian ref and assistants assigned to the game have been studying English-language obscenities. "We have to learn what kind of words the players say," the ref said. Fédération Internationale de Football Assocation (football's international governing body) says they haven't provided a list of profanities. Though countless British and American teenagers or John McEnroe would probably be happy to provide one. 

Wild For The World Cup

How True Fans Show Their Love of the Game

Dan Taylor, British soccer fan, posing in the living room he has turfed over in preparation for the World Cup. Cue the neighbors: "We had no idea. He kept to himself... Seemed like a nice guy..." 

Soccer Shoe Mania

Adidas Makes Lightest Soccer Shoe Evah

Nike might have the phattest World Cup videos, but Adidas has the lightest "football" shoes. (Somewhere Run DMC is filing up their shopping cart.) Fast Company has the full story, but here's the summary: Normal shoes weight about 10 ounces. A pair of the new Adidas F50 Adizero weigh just 5.8 ounces. It's all about high tech microfibers, and organically shaped injection molding, and much more reminiscent of racing yacht design than, say, penny loafers. The shoes are mass produced, however, and so will be coming soon to a store near you. Guaranteed to excite envy at your intramural soccer game, or at certain fashion-forward nightspots....

Gratuitous Images

Annie Liebovitz Loves Soccer Abs

FYI: The latest issue of Vanity Fair presents soccer stars in nothing but patriotic underwear. We offer this for several mostly gratuitous reasons: First, to alert you to impending arrival of the every-four-years World Cup of "football." The tournament starts June 11th in South Africa and runs for a month. Second, to point out that, despite her financial troubles (or maybe because of them), Annie Liebovitz' still gets to take the fun pictures. And finally to inspire your situps, navasanas and teasers this afternoon. Video of photo shoot after the jump, complete with excellent ball juggling....

Intramural Sports

Find a Pick Up Game Near You

This year marks the first in my entire life where I have lived by a park. And while this may not seem too interesting to you, as a homegrown Texan, parks populated by people are still pretty new and exciting to me, even if said people are lovely, dirty, tattooed hipsters. In honor of parks in general, and my wiffle ball pickup game midnight last Friday, I’ve got an exciting list of intramural pickup sites — from basketball to ultimate frisbee — you can use to rack up some intramural minutes this month, no long-term commitment required.