Sports Balls

 

I received the following question recently about what a ball is called in certain sports, like baseball, basketball, volleyball, and football: Do you say “baseball ball” when referring to the ball that is used to play baseball? 

This is a logical question and the answer is no, we do not say “baseball ball,” “basketball ball,” “football ball,” etc.  Typically the term "baseball" (for example) is used to refer to the ball used in the game of baseball. Thus, it’s common to simply say "baseball" when referring to the ball, without adding "ball" after it. The same goes for basketball, football, and other ball sports. In the game, it is just called “the ball.”

We use a baseball to play baseball, a basketball to play basketball, and a football to play football. 

Sport

The word “sport” is connected to activities involving physical effort and skill. Currently, the number of internationally recognized sports totals 442. For our purposes of English improvement, this kind of sport is a noun.

There is another sport that is a verb and it has nothing to do with physical activity, teams, or competition. To sport is to wear or display a distinctive or noticeable item.

- I see that you’re "sporting" a new leather jacket. It’s very cool.
- You will recognize Marco. He’s the one "sporting" a big handlebar mustache.
- Pamela "sported" a red dress to promote Women's Heart Month.
- Kurt's Mustang "sports" a personalized license plate that says “TOO FAST”.
- Who’s that guy "sporting" the white suit? Oh, it’s John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

What do you like to sport?

Tailgate parties

Imagine a sporting event, a baseball game or football game. You're sitting in a lawn chair, your barbecue grill is roasting burgers, sausages, chicken, and all the essential elements are present: plenty of food, alcoholic beverages, your friends and family . . . BUT you're in a parking lot surrounded by hundreds of automobiles and the barbecue grill, table, chairs, your friends are clustered behind your car. Sounds strange? Sounds uncomfortable? No! Sounds like a tailgate party.

A tailgate party is a social event. It's held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle usually before, and sometimes after, a sporting event. A tailgate is the back door of a station wagon, SUV, or truck and a tailgate party refers to an informal meal served from the back of a parked vehicle, typically in the parking lot of a sports stadium. This type of gathering is so popular in the USA that we have a verb for it, to tailgate, and people participate even if their vehicles do not have tailgates.

I went to a tailgate party yesterday before a baseball game. It rained. Even so, it didn't stop the party; people were enthusiastically tailgating in spite of the wet weather . . . and I ate a lot! I recommend starting this trend in your country and try tailgating before your next sporting event. Remember, you don't need the tailgate to have the party.

Team spirit: Green Bay Packers bike brigade

If you live in the state of Wisconsin the football team you support is the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay is a small city in northeastern Wisconsin but its fans are among the most loyal in the NFL (National Football League). The season ticket waiting list has more than 81,000 names and the average wait for tickets is 30 years. That's devotion!

One of the most heartwarming traditions occurs this time every year, during Green Bay Packers training camp, when players "borrow" kids' bikes and ride them from the locker room to the practice field. Sometimes called the Bike Brigade (a brigade is a group of people with a common characteristic or cause) this decades-old tradition was started by legendary coach Vince Lombardi and it has since continued every year.

The ride to the practice field lasts only two minutes but the opportunity for young fans to connect with their favorite players is a thrill!

Let’s Talk About Sports

The 2012 summer Olympic games are currently taking place in London so this is a perfect opportunity to discuss sports, in particular, the verbs we use when participating in sporting and fitness activities: play, do, and go.

Let’s say you like tennis. Do you do tennis, go tennis, or play tennis? Which way sounds the best? What about yoga? Do yoga, go yoga, or play yoga? Hmmm . . .

PLAY
Play is used with ball sports or competitive games where we play against another person:
How often do you play soccer? - Soccer is a ball sport.
I love playing a good game of ping-pong from time to time. - Ping-pong is a competitive game. We play to win.
 It's also a ball sport.
Luca always wins when he plays Scrabble. - Scrabble is a competitive game so we use play.

DO
Do is used for a recreational activity or a non-team sport that does not use a ball:
I heard that you do yoga. - yoga is a non-team activity.
I do crossword puzzles in my free time. - crossword puzzles are not competitive.


GO
Go is used with activities that end in -ing::
Mattia is going sailing on Saturday.

Are you going ice skating this winter?

Maria said she was going jogging.

What is your favorite sport or recreational activity?

Derby Days

The greatest two minutes in sports takes place tomorrow, the Kentucky Derby thoroughbred horse race. Its 137-year history is marked by a number of traditions which are an important part of the Derby atmosphere and experience:

The Mint Julep, an iced drink made of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup is the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. The historic drink can be served in a silver julep cup but most attendees sip theirs from a souvenir glass printed with all previous Derby winners.

I don’t think people wear hats so much anymore these days but the Derby is one of the main hat fashion events of the season for women. Believed to bring good luck at the races, hats of all sizes, colors and designs can be seen on the day, ranging from the stylish to the ridiculous. However, it is all for fun.

The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because a garland (or blanket) of over 400 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The red rose is the official flower of the event.

The racetrack, Churchill Downs, is located in Lousiville, Kentucky (pronounced
LOOW - evel). Kentucky, known as the “Bluegrass State”, got its name from the fertile soil which promotes growth of a bluish-green grass that is common in many pastures throughout the state. Kentucky dominates Thoroughbred breeding thanks to this special grass and water.

The traditions, excitement, glamour, and history together make the first Saturday of May, the Kentucky Derby, the most exciting two minutes in sports. Have you ever seen it?