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Sports

Sports and recreation are an integral part of human history, from the ancient Olympics to the Kentucky Derby, Jackie Robinson, Negro League Baseball, the Super Bowl and more.

Moses Fleetwood Walker, Six Decades Before Jackie Robinson, This Man Integrated Major League Baseball

6 Decades Before Jackie Robinson, This Man Broke Baseball's Color Barrier

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Super Bowl History

Team USA celebrates its shocking upset of the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Winter Olympics History

ca. 1991 — Flag of the Olympics — Image by © Duomo/CORBIS

The Olympic Games

Damaso Marte, Mark Teixeira #25 (C) and Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees celebrate with teammates after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

World Series History

Romania's Nadia Comaneci on the balance beam at the Summer Olympics in 1976.

The Modern Summer Olympic Games: A Timeline

When Joe Louis Fought Max Schmeling, More Was at Stake than Boxing

When Joe Louis Boxed Nazi Favorite Max Schmeling

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Negro League Baseball

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Vicki Golden Sets New Motorcycle Firewall Record

Evel Live 2

Speeding Through Flames: What to Expect from Evel Live 2

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Travis Pastrana Nails All Three of Evel Knievel's Historic Jumps

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7 Death-Defying Historic American Daredevils

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What Drove Evel Knievel to Keep Battering His Body?

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Evel Knievel's Last Jump: What Made Him Finally Quit?

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What Are the Most Insanely Daring Stunts Since Evel Knievel?

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7 of History's Most Fearless Female Daredevils

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Secretariat

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Winter Olympics Technology

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Kentucky Derby

Videos

History Shorts: Getting Back to Sports After a 1918 Pandemic (Forged in Crisis)
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History Shorts: Getting Back to Sports After a 1918 Pandemic (Forged in Crisis)

Hundreds of thousands tuned in on the radio to the 1936 All-American Soap Box Derby, held in Akron, Ohio. This was only the Derby's third year in existence, but its popularity soared as America was looking for something to root for, still struggling from the Great Depression. The All-American Soap Box Derby has been held annually in Akron ever since.
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Flashback: Soap Box Derby Mania

The 1978 World Cup was hosted by Argentina, which was under a brutal military dictatorship at the time. Discover what really motivated the Argentine players to win the tournament, and some of the controversies they dealt with on their journey to victory.
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The Dictators

English Hooliganism had placed a black cloud over the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Find out how the team’s inspiring journey, and heartbreaking loss to West Germany in the semi-finals, helped turn perceptions around.
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The Nearly Men

The 1998 World Cup in France featured several high-profile players making memorable mistakes. Discover how David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane “melted down” in France.
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The Meltdown

Learn about Argentina’s Diego Armando Maradona—one of the greatest, and most controversial, icons in the history of the sport.
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