Sports are essential for exercise, team-building, and social connections. Football/soccer is most popular worldwide with 3.5 billion fans. Cricket follows with 2.5 billion fans, basketball with 2.2 billion
Soccer has over 3.5 billion global fans. Cricket has over 2.5 billion fans, originating in 13th century England
James Naismith invented basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891. Game was created to keep students active during winter. Peach baskets were used as hoops on gymnasium balcony. First game ended in brawl between students, one player injured
Rookie means someone new to an occupation or profession. In sports, rookie is professional athlete in first season. Term may derive from "rook" meaning cheater or fraud
Combat sports involve one-on-one contact combat with points, holds, KOs, or techniques. Boxing dates back to ancient Sumer and Egypt, with pankration introduced in 648 BCE. Traditional wrestling exists in most cultures, considered a cultural universal
Sumo is Japan's national sport, dating back 1,500 years. Judo was created in 1882 by Kano Jigoro for physical and mental strength. Traditional sports like judo and sumo still remain popular